Knowledge, Attitudes and Perceptions of Youth-Friendly Health Services among Adolescents in the Ashaiman District of Ghana.

Abstract

Improving adolescents’ sexual and reproductive health has become a global concern. The establishment of youth-friendly health services in Ghana has helped reduce challenges such as sexually transmitted diseases, teenage pregnancies, premature birth and related complications that confront young people. However, inadequate knowledge on the availability of youthfriendly services, attitudes and perceptions of adolescents toward youth-friendly services suggest poor access of these services by adolescents in Ghana. The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of adolescents on youth-friendly health services in the Ashaiman District of Ghana. This is a case study and made use mixed methods of data collection in getting information on the state of adolescents in the community regarding youth friendly services. Using purposive sampling technique, 260 adolescents were selected from three purposely selected communities in Ashaiman for the study. Six focus group discussions were conducted for the qualitative study. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS and results presented using frequency distribution, charts, percentages and chi-square. Qualitative data were analyzed by themes. The study found out that many adolescents possess low knowledge on youth-friendly services. Also, while some healthcare providers and community members exhibited poor attitudes towards adolescents accessing the services, most adolescents had positive attitudes and perceptions towards the services. Overall access to services was fairly good. Accessing youth-friendly services by adolescents was found not to be influenced by demographic factors such as education, age and gender except religion. The results and findings of this study are very essential to practice, research and policy