An Assessment of the Adolescent Participation, Adolescent Friendly Health Service Providers, and Adolescent Friendly Environment components of the AFHS Standards by Nurses in Otjozondjupa Reg

ABSTRACT

Adolescents are sensitive people who can easily get derailed by a number of challenges which can sometimes lead to detrimental results if they are not taken care of appropriately. Despite the existence of the National Standards for Adolescent Friendly Health Services which is supposed to assist in reducing teenage pregnancy, disturbing figures of adolescents getting pregnant continue to rise.

This study aimed at assessing the implementation of the Adolescent Active Participation, Adolescent Friendly Health Care Provider and the Adolescent Friendly Environment components of the Adolescent Friendly Health Services by nurses in Otjozondjupa Region, Namibia.

A quantitative descriptive, analytical cross sectional study design was done. The study triangulated data from three data sources. The first population was the 38 nurses at the health centres and clinics who implement the Adolescent Friendly Health Services in Otjozondjupa Region. The second study population were all the 3 health centres and 16 Clinics where the Adolescent Friendly Health Services are implemented. The third study population was the 4 995 school going teenage girls as potential users of the Adolescent Friendly Health Services in the 21 Secondary Schools of Otjozondjupa Region.

Data for the teenage girls and the nurses was collected using self administered structured questionnaires of open and close ended questions. A sample of 540 from the teenage girls’ population and universal sampling of 38 nurses and 19 health facilities was applied. The data on the third component the health facilities was collected through a checklist. Variables

which are related to either the use or the provision of Adolescent Friendly Health Services were selected from the questionnaires and the checklist.

A multivariate, analytical descriptive method was followed to analyse the data from the three data sources, using SPSS Version 16 data base. Variables from each of the three components were analysed and described. The relationships of the selected variables were analysed.

The findings indicated that there was limited active involvement and participation of the adolescents in the Adolescent Friendly Health Services as the majority of the adolescents as users of this service did not know about the service. The findings further indicated that almost half of the nurses in the service were not formally trained in Adolescent Reproductive and Sexual Health issues. Additionally, health facility environments were not adolescent friendly.

In conclusion, this study revealed that although the standards for the implementation of AFHS exist, they are not being effectively implemented by Nurses in Otjozondjupa Region.

Based on the conclusions which were drawn from this study, recommendations were made with regard to the improvement of adolescent active participation, marketing strategies for Adolescent Friendly Health Services, training of current and prospect adolescent health care providers in matters of adolescent friendly health services and improvement of the adolescent friendly environment in health care facilities.