Reproductive Health Service Utilization and Associated Factors Among Female Adolescents in Kachabirra District, South Ethiopia: A Community Based Cross Sectional Study

Background: Adolescent girls are at the highest risk of maternal mortality compared to women in their twenties. Reproductive health service utilization among adolescent females is lower when compared with other age groups in Ethiopia. Objectives: The study was aimed to assess the reproductive health service utilization and associated factors among female adolescents of kachabirra district. Methods: Community based cross sectional study was conducted in Kachebirra district. A total of 844 female adolescents participated from 8 randomly selected kebeles (the smallest administrative unit). A pretested structured interview was used. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was carried out to assess the association. Statistical significance was declared by 95% confidence interval of odds ratio. Results 812 female adolescents with response rate of 96.2% participated in the study. In this study, 383 (47.2%, 95% CI: 43.7-50.6%) of the female adolescents utilized the reproductive health services. Female adolescent reproductive health service utilization was significantly associated with; living with both parents (AOR=9.63, 95% CI: 1.237-74.983), age 15-19 years (AOR=3.295, 95% CI: 1.411-7.696), excellent attitudes of health providers (AOR=3.816, 95% CI: 1.561-9.324) and adequate consultation time (AOR=2.450, 95% CI: 1.178-5.094). Conclusions: There is low level of female adolescent reproductive health service utilization. Age, living arrangement, attitude of reproductive health service providers and consultation time in the nearby health facilities were significantly associated with female adolescent reproductive health service utilization.