Social norms influence on provider provision of contraceptive services to adolescents: baseline evaluation of a vignette-based intervention in Kibra- urban informal settlement in Kenya
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Save the Children-Kenya Country Office, Kenya
2
Save the Children-Kenya Country Office, Nairobi, Kenya
Publication date: 2023-04-27
Popul. Med. 2023;5(Supplement):A1043
ABSTRACT
Delaying pregnancy among girls and young women can improve maternal and child health outcomes, as well as women’s educational outcomes and long-term socioeconomic trajectories. Helping adolescents and youth to delay pregnancy until they are ready starts with improving accessibility, acceptability and quality of Sexual reproductive health and family planning (SRH/FP). Social and gender norms can influence health provider attitudes and behaviors Resulting in key barriers for adolescents seeking SRH/FP services. To inform a social norm intervention addressing providers attitudes and behaviors, we carried out two surveys among health providers, and adolescents and youth seeking services in Kibra informal settlement of Nairobi, Kenya. The Results show that myths and misconceptions regarding FP methods are a key issue among providers, and concerns about FP use Resulting in promiscuity remain high, despite receiving recent SRH/FP trainings. Yet, the majority of providers believe they have a duty to provide services to their young clients. Adolescents and youth seeking services were mostly satisfied with services. However, providers treatment was the most common source of dissatisfaction. Their knowledge of FP methods varied, yet health providers were the most trusted source to seek information on SRH/FP methods. Early pregnancy impedes long-term social, educational and health outcomes of adolescent girls and young women. In Kenya, 18% of adolescent girls have already begun childbearing. Helping adolescents and youth, delay pregnancy requires quality SRH/FP services that are acceptable, accessible and address their age-specific needs and priorities. However, adolescents seeking contraception are often shamed, sent away, or harshly treated by providers. We implemented i. To inform an intervention to address social factors shaping SRH/FP provision of services in Kibra informal settlement of Nairobi, we carried out two baseline surveys among SRH/FP providers, and adolescents seeking services.