Table 2 Suggestions from Health Service Providers (HSP) on how to improve young people’s access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services
Thematic area | HSP from integrated facilities | HSP from youth centres |
|---|---|---|
Health provider related improvements | ▪ Improve staffing levels; appropriate staff deployment | ▪ Improve staffing levels |
▪ Train more staff in youth friendly approach | ▪ Train more staff in youth friendly approach | |
▪ HSP training to include support staff | ▪ Institute selection criteria for staff training | |
▪ Selection criteria for staff training agreed | ▪ Ensure staff motivated | |
▪ Institute staff motivation and incentives such as certification, workshop attendance, recognition of good service | ▪ Provide incentives for youth volunteers | |
▪ Motivation of youth volunteers | ▪ HSP to conduct outreach education activities in the community | |
Service delivery related improvements | ▪ Ensure availability of essential supplies, drugs, basic equipment for Antenatal Care (ANC) and Family Planning (FP) Services; pregnancy tests kits, FP commodities, HIV testing kits | ▪ Ensure availability of essential equipment in ANC and FP |
▪ Create adequate space to attend to young people | ▪ Improve privacy of service provision | |
▪ Need for facility improvement initiatives such as having youth-specific rooms where youth can be served without needing to queue | ▪ Have full-time services i.e. 24/7 opening hours, or at least daily | |
▪ Improve privacy in the consulting rooms | ▪ Provide a wide range of services including ARVs, contraceptives, laboratory testing (e.g for STIs) | |
▪ Have youth-only health facility/area if possible | ||
▪ Set aside youth only days at the centre once a month | ||
▪ Introduction of pay-in service system for sustainability | ||
▪ Ensure that educational materials are available. Have these in audio-visual formats | ||
Young people related improvements | ▪ Need forums that can bring young people to the facility – youth-related initiatives and activities | ▪ Hold youth-related activities at the facility |
▪ Have TV room with videos, library with education materials | ▪ Have outreach activities to schools and churches | |
▪ Have youth activities at the facility such as games, pool table, computers | ▪ Have more activities at the centre to occupy young people |