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Barriers to access reproductive health care for pregnant adolescent girls: a qualitative study in Tanzania
Author(s) -
Hokororo Adolfine,
Kihunrwa Albert F.,
Kalluvya Samuel,
Changalucha John,
Fitzgerald Daniel W.,
Downs Jennifer A.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
acta paediatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/apa.12886
Subject(s) - tanzania , reproductive health , focus group , medicine , qualitative research , reproductive medicine , stigma (botany) , health facility , family medicine , health care , environmental health , pregnancy , population , health services , psychiatry , socioeconomics , social science , genetics , marketing , economic growth , economics , business , sociology , biology
Aims In Tanzania, approximately 25% of adolescents give birth and 50% more become sexually active during adolescence. We hypothesised that reproductive health education and services for adolescent girls are inaccessible and conducted this study to gain insights into their perceptions of sexually transmitted infections ( STI s) and barriers to reproductive health service utilisation in rural Mwanza, Tanzania. Methods We conducted nine focus groups among pregnant adolescents aged 15–20 years. Data were transcribed, translated and coded for relevant themes using NV ivo10 software for qualitative data analysis. Results Most participants were aware of the dangers of STI s to themselves and their unborn babies, but did not perceive themselves as at risk of acquiring STI s. They viewed condoms as ineffective for preventing STI s and pregnancies and unnecessary for those in committed relationships. Stigma, long waiting times, and lack of privacy in the clinics discouraged adolescent girls from seeking reproductive health care. Conclusion Reproductive health care for adolescent girls who are not pregnant is practically nonexistent in Tanzania. Healthcare access for pregnant young women is also limited. Targeted changes to increase clinic accessibility and to provide reproductive health education to all rather than only pregnant women have the potential to address these gaps.