ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Adolescent well-being encompasses physical, mental and social health during the transitional phase from childhood to adulthood. Adequate adolescent health services play a crucial role in addressing their unique needs and promoting a foundation for a healthy future.
OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the availability, knowledge and level of utilization of adolescent health services as well as identified the factors associated with the utilization of adolescent health services among adolescents in Egor Local Government Area, Benin City, Nigeria.
METHODOLOGY: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was carried out among 13 Primary Health Care centres and 640 adolescents in Egor Local Government Area, Benin City, Nigeria. The respondents were selected using a multi-stage sampling method. Data were collected using a checklist adapted from WHO-SEARO and a structured self-administered questionnaire adapted from previous studies on knowledge and utilization of adolescent health services. The data were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 25, with the level of significance set at p < 0.05.
RESULT: Only 3 (23.1%) of the Primary Health Care centres offer adolescent health services, however, in keeping with the national standards. The mean age of the respondents was 15.0±1.5 years. There were 361 (56.4%) males, 305 (47.7%) were in Ss1 class and 427 (66.7%) resided with both parents. Overall, 443 (69.2%) of the respondents had poor knowledge and 400 (62.5%) had never used adolescent health services. The most common reason why the respondents used adolescent health services was because they were ill, 101 (42.1%) and they mostly sought the service in a public health facility, 96 (40.0%) Having good knowledge (p < 0.001), residing with both parents (p = 0.001), household income (p = 0.003) and parental support (p = 0.033) were found to have significant associations, while class (O.R = 0.406), household income (O.R = 2.185, 1.099) and knowledge (O.R = 0.238) were predictors of utilization of adolescent health services.
CONCLUSION: Most respondents had poor knowledge of adolescent health services and the majority have never used adolescent health services. Factors associated with the utilization of adolescent health services were sex, class, parent’s marital status, religion, caregiver, household income, means of transportation, source of payment for the services, parental support and knowledge. Predictors of utilization of adolescent health services were class, household income and knowledge. Thus, there is a need for relevant stakeholders to collaborate to organize health education and awareness campaigns to reach and engage adolescents on the availability and need for utilization of adolescent health services for the promotion of their health.
Keywords: Adolescents, Adolescent Health Services, Knowledge, Utilization, Primary Health Care Centres, Benin City.
