Factors that are associated with adolescents health seeking practices during pregnancy in Blantyre rural

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2011-03-01
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Strategies to improve the pregnant adolescent‘s health need clear understanding of the patterns and determinants of the adolescent‘s health seeking practices. This research study, guided by Kroeger Model, explored factors that are associated with adolescent health-seeking practices during pregnancy in Blantyre rural. The study objectives were to assess individual factors that are associated with adolescent‘s health-seeking practices during pregnancy, determine psychological factors that are associated with adolescent‘s health-seeking practices during pregnancy, and to identify health service factors that are associated with adolescent‘s health-seeking practices during pregnancy. A descriptive quantitative design was used. A total of 240 pregnant adolescents and adolescents who delivered within the previous 6 months, aged between 13 and 19 years were selected using Purposive sampling. Data was collected using a structured interview guide and analyzed using SPSS version 16.0. The results identified individual, psychological and health service factors that hinder adolescent‘s health-seeking practices during pregnancy. The individual factors were low level of education 72.5%, inability to make decisions as regards to care 73.8%, inadequate knowledge 44.16 % related to health seeking practices, under age 40.8%, and marital status 30 %. The psychological factors were shyness 85.8%, fear 84.2%, reluctance to open up 50.8 %, denial and concealed pregnancy 49.6%, and stigma, 34.2%. The health service factors were transport 80.4%, distance 79.2%, a lack of provision of adolescent friendly services 72.5%, and inaccessible roads 62.9%. The factors found to promote health seeking practices were provider‘s sensitivity on adolescent‘s issues 44.6%, free services 19.2%, skilled care 6.3%, and trust 6.3%. The factors identified can provide a basis for improving the services there by promoting adolescent health seeking practices during pregnancy. The study recommends that health education and counseling of pregnant adolescents should be strengthened. Efforts to increase the adolescent's status and decision-making power should be made through community mobilization by empowering adolescents, parents, and the community with knowledge about adolescent‘s pregnancy. There is need to establish and/or make existing health facilities more youth friendly and ensure that policies regarding pregnant adolescents are being implemented. Every effort should be made to facilitate accessibility of pregnant adolescent services.
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