Determinants of Reproductive Health Services Utilization Among Female Adolescents in Sangotedo, Eti-Osa East LGA, Lagos State, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Reproductive and sexual health account for a sizeable portion of the global burden of sexual ill-health. At the same time, female adolescents’ utilization of Reproductive Health Services (RHS) remains a global public health concern due to numerous predisposing factors of knowledge, attitude, and perception of the female adolescent. These services are crucial for their reproductive health and well-being. Studies have reported low utilization of RHS by female adolescents in Lagos State, resulting in an increase in teenage pregnancy, sexually transmitted infection and abortion, especially in Eti-Osa. Most studies on the utilization of RHS focused on women of reproductive age, not on female adolescents. Hence, this study investigated the determinants of reproductive health services among female adolescents in Sangotedo LCDA, Eti-Osa East LGA, Lagos State, Nigeria. Methods: This study utilized a cross-sectional design. Two hundred and fifteen (215) female adolescents from four secondary schools were selected using stratified random sampling. A structured and validated questionnaire with Cronbach alpha reliability coefficient ranging from 0.70 to 0.99 was used for data collection. Respondents’ predisposing factor levels (knowledge, attitude, and perception) were measured on a 30-point rating scale. Utilization of RHS was measured on a 3-point rating scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics at a 5% level of significance. Results: Two hundred and fifteen (215) female adolescents of ages 10-19 years completed the questionnaire correctly. The mean age was 14±1.8 years. Slightly above half (51.2%) were between the ages of 14 and 15 years. The majority (96.3%) of the respondents had low levels of predisposing factors that promote reproductive health service utilization. Less than half (40.4%) of the respondents utilized RHS. Furthermore, there was no statistically significant relationship between predisposing factors and female adolescents’ utilization of reproductive health services (r =-0.39, p > 0.05). Conclusion: The utilization of RHS is low among female adolescents. This study therefore recommended that intervention programs that will improve the predisposing factors of the female adolescents should be carried out regularly in primary health centers.