Aim: This study aimed to explore and understand Tanzanian health professionals’ perceptions of barriers for adolescents accessing sexual and reproductive health services. Methods: A qualitative study was carried out using semi-structured interviews with 16 health professionals. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings: The study revealed that sexual and reproductive health services are not sufficiently youth-friendly due to the perceived lack of youth-targeted information on existing services toadolescents, and the clinical and pathology focus in service delivery. Social stigma toward adolescent sexuality, lack of knowledge of sexual and reproductive health and rights in the community, and lack of responsible actors in educating adolescents were mentioned as socio-cultural barriers to accessing services. Political statements and policies were perceived to be a socio-political barrier for adolescents accessing sexual and reproductive health services. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that it is important to give attention to health professionals’ perspectives of barriers for adolescents accessing sexual and reproductive health services. Future research and policymakers need to investigate stigmatizing and judgemental attitudes toward adolescent sexuality, in communities and among health professionals, to realize youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services. The results in this thesis further suggest that policies in adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights should be clear and consistent for improving the quality of service delivery for adolescents.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UPSALLA1/oai:DiVA.org:uu-516192 |
| Date | January 2019 |
| Creators | Bylund, Sara |
| Publisher | Uppsala universitet, Institutionen för kvinnors och barns hälsa |
| Source Sets | DiVA Archive at Upsalla University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Student thesis, info:eu-repo/semantics/bachelorThesis, text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
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