Youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services utilization and its determinants in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Heliyon. 2021 Dec 3;7(12):e08526. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e08526. eCollection 2021 Dec.

Abstract

Background: In most developing countries, meeting young people's sexual and reproductive health (SRH) needs remains a problem. Despite policy initiatives and strategic measures aimed at increasing youth utilization of sexual and reproductive health services in Ethiopia, its utilization remains very low. Therefore, this study aimed to assess Ethiopia's youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services' utilisation and determinants.

Methods: Scopus, Medline, Google Scholar, and CINAHL databases were searched for articles published until March 2021. The pooled prevalence and effect size of youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health service use and associated factors were estimated using a weighted DerSimonian-laird random effect model. The I2 statistics were used to determine the degree of heterogeneity. The funnel plot and Egger's regression test were used to examine publication bias. Subgroup analyses were performed to reduce underlying heterogeneity.

Results: One thousand one hundred and ninety-one articles were generated from various databases, and a final 26 articles were included in the review, including 16246 participants. Ethiopia's pooled prevalence of youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health service utilization was 42.73 % (95% CI: 35.38-50.09). The findings of this study showed that grade level 11-12, grade level 9-10, close to home sexual and reproductive health services, male sex, and discussion of sexual and reproductive health service with family, friends, and groups, ever experience sexual activity were associated with utilization of youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services. Maternal educational status secondary school and above, age 15-19 years, age 20-24 years, having ever experienced reproductive problems, living with a partner, living alone, knowing about sexual and reproductive health, having a convenient working hour for youth-friendly service, and participation in a school clubs were also associated with the utilization of youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services.

Conclusion: We found several determinant factors for adolescent and youth utilization of sexual and reproductive health services. The review highlights the importance of improving service usage through youth education and promotion and the scaling up and institutionalizing of youth-friendly services through extensive capacity building.

Keywords: Ethiopia; Sexual and reproductive health; Utilization; Youth; Youth-friendly.