Abstract:

Background: More than 1.2 Billion of the world’s population is youth’s age between 15-24 years, and this group of age has a high risk of premature pregnancies, childbirth, HIV/AIDS, unsafe abortion, and maternal complication, and mostly in Sub Saharan Africa including Tanzania. This situation is influenced by the spatial distribution of health facilities, socio-cultural barriers which hinder the youths to access and utilize sexual and reproductive health services in their setting.

Objective: To determine spatial availability and socio-cultural barriers for accessibility and utilization of youth-friendly sexual reproductive health services in Mwanza city from health care provider’s perspective.

Methods: This study utilized Geographical Information System (GIS) to map availability of youth-friendly sexual reproductive health services. To explore socio-cultural barriers on accessibility and utilization of YESRHS, qualitative data collection method (key informant interview) was used among health care workers. Data collected was transcribed using pattern matching methods and merged into relevant themes for analysis and interpretation.

Ethical Consideration: Ethical clearance for the study was sought from the Joint Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences and Bugando Medical Centre Research and Ethics Review Committee.

Results: A total of 34 health facilities were visited and 68 of health care workers interviewed on barriers faced by adolescents. This study revealed that majority of health facilities [83.5%] in Mwanza City provides YFSRHS. Barriers to YRSRHS provision in health facilities included lack of trained health care workers for the FYSRHS, Lack of privacy, False beliefs, low education, lack of information and education materials for youth such as posters, leaflets, Lack of guidelines concerning YFSRHS, Community, Cultural and Religious factors. Themes that emerged from interviews were poor environment for YRSRHS and community, Cultural barriers to YRSRHS.

Conclusion: This study revealed that despite available youth sexual reproductive services, different barriers such as false beliefs, religious barriers and low education have to be addressed to reach the friendly Youth sexual reproductive services provision in health facilities.