Abstract

Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the impacts of Reaching and Empowering Adolescents to make informed Choices for their Health (REACH) project intervention in utilization and satisfaction of Adolescents’ Sexual and Reproductive Health (ASRH).

Methodology: This was a mixed methods study which collected both quantitative data (via a structured household survey and a health facility survey) and qualitative data (via Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs)). The primary study population was male and female adolescents aged between 10 and 19 years within the three states (Gombe, Katsina and Zamfara).

Results: The finding of this project shows that, there is an increase in utilization of SRH services by adolescents as compared to the base line. Similarly, the result shows that married girls were more likely than unmarried girls to report using SRH services: 86% and 44% respectively (χ2 p<0.001). The same was true of boys, but the difference between married and unmarried boys was much smaller: 48% and 40% respectively. Similarly, there was an increase in the satisfaction with ASRH services as compared to base line.

Conclusion: REACH project educational intervention is effective in increasing utilization of Adolescents Sexual and Reproductive Health (ASRH) services.

Keywords: Adolescents • Adolescents’ sexual and reproductive health • Structured household survey • Health facility survey