Exploring barriers in accessing reproductive health services for adolescent married women: View health providers

Introduction:

Access to reproductive health services is a fundamental human right, yet many young married women face obstacles in obtaining these services. Young married couples in lower- and middle-income countries face barriers to accessing quality reproductive health services.

Method:

This cross-sectional study examines the barriers to accessing reproductive health services for young married women in Shiraz, Iran. The research population comprises reproductive health providers working in health centers affiliated with Shiraz University of Medical Science. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire based on a literature review and expert opinions.

Result:

The study included 58% midwives and 42% physicians and family health care providers. Most providers (59.2%) stated that married teenagers face financial difficulties paying for reproductive health services. They also mentioned that married teenagers lack suitable transportation and may need permission from their husbands or mother-in-law to access health centers (27.7% and 69.7%, respectively). Additionally, 27.7% of providers reported that married teenage girls do not have insurance coverage. Providers generally agreed that structural factors were not barriers to accessing services. However, 20.6% of married adolescent women expressed dissatisfaction with the quality of services. Providers believed that consultations were compassionate, client problems were addressed (52.6%), and employees treated their patients well (57.9%).Regarding access to reproductive health services, providers stated that married teenagers do not have access to all services in their city and may need to go to another city or center to receive them (57.9%). There was also a lack of specialized staff to provide reproductive health services according to the needs of married teenagers, according to 58.2% of the providers. The study found that financial, structural, and geographical factors were related to access to reproductive health services, with percentages of 32%, 61% (structural factor 1), 82% (structural factor 2), and 88% (geographic factor), respectively.

Conclusion:

Based on all the information obtained from this research and related studies, there is a need to improve structural, financial, and geographical access for adolescent women to reproductive health services, as well as provide them with education on sexual skills, increasing their knowledge of sexual health and pre- and post-natal care, to improve the overall quality of pregnancy.