Youth Friendly Health Services in Kenya: Characteristics, Knowledge, Attitude, Practices and Experiences

Abstract

About 1.8 billion people in the world today are aged between 10 and 24years. The youth have unique needs that must be addressed. Youth friendly health services are able to effectively attract young people, meet their needs comfortably and responsively and succeed in retaining young clients for continuing care, as they meet their expectations and improve their health. Some of the reproductive health challenges faced by the young people include STIs, HIV/AIDS, unplanned pregnancies, unsafe abortion, female genital mutilation, drug abuse and sexual violence. The study was conducted for 4 months at Mbagathi County referral hospital and Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital. Four hundred and twenty-two youth were sampled and one service provider in each health facility was the key informant. The broad objective was to assess characteristics, knowledge, attitude, practices, experiences and factors associated with youth friendly health services in selected health facilities in Nairobi County The study employed a convergent parallel mixed method study design. Data was collected from the youth using structured questionnaires and in-depth interviews With service providers. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 20 with p ≤ 0.05 and thematic translation for qualitative data. Results revealed that, majority of the youth were aged 20-24 years (62.3%) with ages 10-14 years being 7.8%. Facility characteristics like convenient location, privacy and confidentiality at the clinics needed improvement to meet World Health Organization standards, except for Comprehensive Care Clinics (CCC). Youth have low knowledge of youth friendly health services (33.9%). Youth friendly health services were embedded in existing and readily available services at the facilities. The outpatient department had more first-time visits by youth in contrast to CCC and MCH, which had repeat visits. Service providers were reported to be respectful and friendly. Youth experienced comfortable sitting space, convenient working hours and short waiting time, these enhanced utilization of youth services. While experiences like lack of information, long waiting time, staff attitude and lack of funds were a hindrance to service utilization. Service provider experiences like poor training, inadequate space, shortage of staff, attitude by youth and long working hours were a hindrance to service provision. In conclusion, youth friendly service facility characteristics advocated by the World Health Organization were not adhered to. The recommendation is that youth friendly health services should be introduced or integrated into existing health services to increase availability. Facilities should be improved to meet the World Health Organization standards for youth friendliness, and health personnel should be well trained in youth services and collaboration by different agencies is paramount.