Scholarlink

Background <p>Children on the streets are still vulnerable to early and unsafe sexual experiences. Having multiple sexual partners and the limited use of condoms were major risk factors for the spread of sexually transmitted diseases among youths in Ethiopia.</p> Objective <p>This study aimed to explore the risk factors of sexual and reproductive health problems, service utilization, and challenges among street youths in the East Gojjam Zone.</p> Method <p>A phenomenological study design was employed on street youths residing in the East Gojjam Zone. Study participants were purposively recruited from four town administrations in the East Gojjam Zone. The primary study unit was street youths who live in the zone. Eight in-depth interviews and eight focus group discussions were conducted. The data were audio recorded and analyzed using inductive thematic analysis.</p> Results <p>In this study, the risk factors that exposed street youths to sexual and reproductive health problems included low perceived susceptibility, lack of awareness of sexual and reproductive health, having multiple sexual partners, exposure to pornographic films, and utilization of alcoholic drinks and substances. Mainly, those street youths who were engaged in transactional sexual relationships were utilizing condoms consistently and had regular HIV screening tests. In addition, few street youths ever utilized maternal and child health services. The unsupportive behavior of health professionals, the absence of exact data, the health system, and lack of specific responsible organization on the sexual and reproductive health of street youths were considered major challenges.</p> Conclusion and recommendation <p>Most of the street youths were not utilizing reproductive health services. Limitation on the accessibility of sexual and reproductive health services to this segment of the population was the main contributing factor. So, the health system and policy should take front-line responsibility for the sexual and reproductive health of street youths and consider convenient reproductive health service programs for them.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Risk factors of sexual and reproductive health problems, service utilization, and its challenges among street youths in East Gojjam zone, North West Ethiopia: exploratory qualitative study

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2025年5月21日

查看全文
  • Atsede Alle Ewunetie,
  • Abiot Aschale,
  • Melaku Desta,
  • Wodaje Gietaneh,
  • Helen Asmamaw,
  • Getnet Gedif,
  • Hailemariam Abiy

摘要

Background

Children on the streets are still vulnerable to early and unsafe sexual experiences. Having multiple sexual partners and the limited use of condoms were major risk factors for the spread of sexually transmitted diseases among youths in Ethiopia.

Objective

This study aimed to explore the risk factors of sexual and reproductive health problems, service utilization, and challenges among street youths in the East Gojjam Zone.

Method

A phenomenological study design was employed on street youths residing in the East Gojjam Zone. Study participants were purposively recruited from four town administrations in the East Gojjam Zone. The primary study unit was street youths who live in the zone. Eight in-depth interviews and eight focus group discussions were conducted. The data were audio recorded and analyzed using inductive thematic analysis.

Results

In this study, the risk factors that exposed street youths to sexual and reproductive health problems included low perceived susceptibility, lack of awareness of sexual and reproductive health, having multiple sexual partners, exposure to pornographic films, and utilization of alcoholic drinks and substances. Mainly, those street youths who were engaged in transactional sexual relationships were utilizing condoms consistently and had regular HIV screening tests. In addition, few street youths ever utilized maternal and child health services. The unsupportive behavior of health professionals, the absence of exact data, the health system, and lack of specific responsible organization on the sexual and reproductive health of street youths were considered major challenges.

Conclusion and recommendation

Most of the street youths were not utilizing reproductive health services. Limitation on the accessibility of sexual and reproductive health services to this segment of the population was the main contributing factor. So, the health system and policy should take front-line responsibility for the sexual and reproductive health of street youths and consider convenient reproductive health service programs for them.