Abstract:
Background: Youth corners are designed to make health services accommodate the unique needs of youth. Nevertheless, in developing countries like Rwanda, the use of the services provided in youth corner is limited. The main aim of this study was to assess the youth friendly corner utilization and the influencing factors among the youth
Methods: A community based cross-sectional quantitative study design supplemented with qualitative inquiry was used from June to August 2023. Data were collected from a random sample of 578 youth using a pretested structured questionnaire. Qualitative data were collected through interview guides. Odds ratios, along with 95 % confidence level, were estimated to measure the strength of association between the study variables using multivariable logistic regression. Level of statistical significance was declared at p-value less than 0.05. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the qualitative data.
Results: In this study respondents were divided into two age categories 15 -17 years 322(56.2%) and 18 – 19 years 256(43.8%) and more than half (52.1%) were females. The study found that 61 % of the youth had utilized youth friendly corner at least once at the time of the survey. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, having knowledge about YFS [AOR = 2.77, 95 % CI(1.93,3.96)], and being female [COR = 2.45,95% CI (1.72, 3.28)] were significantly associated with the utilization of youth corner. In contrast, having negative perception about counseling [AOR = 0.51, 95 % CI (0.31–0.80)], about reproductive health services [AOR = 0 .13, 95 % CI (0.04–0.44)], and about youth friendly service providers [AOR–0.02, 95 % CI (0.08–0.51)] negatively influenced the outcome variable. And it was found that social culture characteristics, behaviors of Health services provider, availability and accessibility of FP services are among of factors that are influencing the use of youth corner . Also Young people value the Non-Health services like availability and accessibility of recreation facilities and improving interpersonal communication skills.
Conclusions: The utilization of youth corner or ever visited it for sexual reproductive health is moderate in this study. getting youth related services information from different sources and being knowledgeable about the services have increased the utilization of the youth corner. Efforts should be made by all relevant stake holders to create good environment for the youth through training of the youth service providers, particularly for those who work in the Health vi centers, and strengthening of the awareness creation strategies among the youth to increase the utilization of the youth corners
