Perceptions, knowledge and exercises of sexual and reproductive health rights and associated factors among adolescents in east Arsi zone, Ethiopia: A sequential explanatory mixed method study

Daniel Bekele Wakjira, Debbie Seoka Kgomotso Habedi

Abstract

Sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHRs) are the rights of all people regardless of their age, sex and other characteristics to make choices about their own reproductive issues. This study aimed to explore and describe adolescents’ perceptions, knowledge and exercises of SRHR and associated factors among going adolescents in Arsi zone, Ethiopia. This study was guided by explanatory sequential mixed-method study design. Thus, a two-phase data collection approach was adopted. In Phase I, the quantitative data were collected from 800 adolescent (15-19 years) using pre tested and self-administrated questionnaires. In Phase II, a semi-structured interview guide was used to collect data from 12 key informant interviews with teachers and health care providers and 4 focus group discussions with adolescents who were not participated in quantitative phase. The findings from the phases I and II approaches were merged through a comparison of findings side by side.  Quantitative data was cleaned and analysed using SPSS 25 while thematic analysis was used for qualitative data. In phase I of 827 total adolescents invited to the study, 800 (96.7%) respondents participated in the study. Overall, less than half (26.1%) had ability to exercises and (45.3%) knowledgeable about SRHRs. In this study, adolescents with 17-19 years (AOR=3.30, 95% CI: 2.17-5. 23), grades 11 to 12 (AOR=1.69, 95% CI: 1. 23-2.35) and knowledge (AOR=1.47, 95%CI: 1.05-2.05) were significantly associated with SRHRs exercises. The research found misperception, limited knowledge and exercises amongst adolescents about SRHRs in secondary schools emphasising the rights-based approach. It is urged to promote educational campaigns to reduce misconceptions and increase knowledge of SRH rights among adolescents. (Afr J Reprod Health 2022; 26[11]: 66-77).

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