Youth-Friendly Family Planning Services for Young People: A Systematic Review Update

Abstract

Context: Youth-friendly family planning services may improve youth reproductive health outcomes. A systematic review conducted in 2011 was updated in 2016 to incorporate recent data examining the effects of youth-friendly family planning services on reproductive health outcomes and the facilitators and barriers facing young people in accessing family planning services. Evidence acquisition: PubMed, POPLINE, EMBASE, and other databases were used to identify relevant articles published from March 2011 through April 2016. Evidence synthesis: Eighteen studies met inclusion criteria and were added to 19 studies from the review conducted in 2011. Of these, seven assessed the effect of youth-friendly services on outcomes: two showed a positive effect on reducing teen pregnancy, three on contraceptive use, and three on knowledge and patient satisfaction (not mutually exclusive). Facilitators or barriers were described in 32 studies. However, none were RCTs and most were at high risk for bias due to selection, self-report, and recall bias among others. Conclusions: The studies in this review suggest some positive effects of youth-friendly family planning services on reproductive health outcomes, but the need for more rigorous research persists. This review identified numerous factors relevant to young people’s access to family planning services, reaffirming findings from the initial review: young people value confidentiality, supportive provider interaction, specialized provider training, and the removal of logistic barriers. Further, it illuminates the importance young people place on receiving comprehensive, client-centered family planning counseling. These findings should be considered when developing, implementing, and evaluating reproductive health services for young people.

Understanding adolescent and youth sexual and reproductive health-seeking behaviors in Ethiopia: Implications for youth friendly service programming

“…As young people transition into adulthood, their sexual and reproductive health needs change and it is important to reach this population with appropriate and relevant information and services and address their developmental needs. Reviews and commentaries that cull the literature to assess interventions of youth friendly services that hold promise in achieving reproductive health outcomes have been documented more recently in addition to common barriers encountered by young people in accessing sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services (Brittain et al 2015;Chandra-Mouli et al 2015;High-Impact Practices in Family Planning 2015).…”

Contraceptive use among sexually active female adolescent:Trends and determinants insight from National Demographic and health survey

“…Improvements in contraceptive prevalence trends were more pronounced between 2005 and 2011 survey years. Possible explanations for this increment in contraceptive prevalence may be related to implementation of several interventions aimed at increasing demand for and access to sexual and reproductive health services among adolescents and youths by providing youth-friendly health services and innovative health extension worker program that brings health services including family planning to the communities home (20,32) There is also a national political commitment to family planning in Ethiopia, by governments and nongovernmental organizations has increased resource allocations for contraceptive security and deliver (33). The private sector also played an important role in increasing young women's access to contraceptive services in Ethiopia (34).…”

“…However, in the present study only 15% of those who visit health facilities are told about contraception that indicated many sexually active adolescent girls miss out on this information. A systematic review that conducted in 2011 and updated in 2016 on youth-friendly family planning services for young people indicated the importance young people place on receiving comprehensive, client centered family planning counseling (32). However, there are a number of factors that identi ed as barriers to the delivery of effective contraceptive counselling and care for adolescents at these different levels.…”

Geographical variation and factor associated with modern contraceptive utilization among Young married women aged between 15-24 years: Spatial and multilevel analysis of EDHS 2016.

“…Evidence show that family planning among young women in static health facility is not enough but geographical access has attracted huge attention as a possible major constraint on uptake of services (21). It might be due to provision of community-based programmers have had high success in raising contraceptive use in many settings including social marketing and conventional health facilities ,and have been central to achievements in some countries (23).…”

“…Access to sexual and reproductive health services for youth and improving availability, affordability, and youth-friendliness of service may critical for this achievement. But it is not enough which need to include provide service in different location by private and governmental provider to offer quality of service but also emphasized the important of policymakers concerned with youth FP programs (21)(22)(23).…”