A Dissertation Submitted in Partial/Fulfilment of the Requirements for Award
of the Master of Public Administration (MPA) of Mzumbe University
This study was a non-experimental, descriptive study that combined qualitative and
quantitative methods. A total of eighty adolescent girls completed the questionnaire,
ten participated in In-depth interviews, two focus group discussions were conducted
with representative parents/guardians and ten key informants were interviewed. Data
were transcribed using using F4 program and later analyzed using Epidata and Nvivo
8.
The study found that a good number of adolescent girls were aware of the services
component within the youth-friendly SRH services and have ever received such
services. The study found that term youth-friendly SRH service was not very familiar
with many adolescent. The most common source of information reported was the mass
media especially radio and TV, school, parents, guardian, peers and friends. The most
known and sought services include; voluntary counseling and testing, family planning/
contraception, STI treatment, Care and treatment and information and education.
Government facilities were the main service delivery point were adolescent received
the SRH services or felt they can access such services. Factors behind inadequate
access to services included; fear among adolescents, inadequate facilities, lack of
knowledge about the existence of services, issues of confidentiality, availability of
service and attitudes of health care providers. Inadequate access to services exposes
adolescent girls to risk of unplanned pregnancies, STI including HIV/AIDS as well as
unsafe abortions.
The study recommends that there is a need for mobilization of resources for further
investment in the sexual and reproductive health of adolescent girls in order to improve
their utilization of services.