RIPSEC Democratic Republic of Congo - Exploring the Adequacy of Family Planning Services to Adolescents needs: Results of a cross-sectional Study from two settings in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Exploring the Adequacy of Family Planning Services to Adolescents needs: Results of a cross-sectional Study from two settings in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Abstract

The aim of this paper was to assess the adequacy of family planning (FP) services to adolescents’ needs in the

DRC. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 61 health facilities providing the FP. The data were

collected by interview with managers, direct observation, and document review. The dependent variable was

"Uptake of FP by adolescents aged 15-19", a dichotomous variable assessed “yes” when the FP was used by at

least one adolescent and “no” when no adolescent used the FP during the study period. Independent variables

were: wide range of contraceptives methods; audio and visual privacy of FP room; community support; FP free

or subsidized and Nonjudgmental service provision. The index of availability of adolescent-friendly FP services

was calculated; Pearson’s chi-square and Odd Ratio were used to test all associations and the logistic regression

helped to measure the effect size of specific associations. All hypotheses were verified using the alpha significance

level of .05.

Results: About 80.3% of health facilities offered FP to adolescents. Most of contraceptives

were offered to adult than to adolescents. Of all facilities, 11.5% were assessed as “high Friendly”, 63.9% as

“moderate Friendly” and 24.6% as “Low Friendly” in FP. Overall, Uptake of FP by adolescents reported in 68.9%

health facilities was significantly associated to the availability of a “wide range of the contraceptive methods”

(OR=.030; CI95% [0,003 - 0,285]; p=.002) and the “Nonjudgmental service provision” (OR=.019; CI95% [0.001

- 0.265]; p=.003).

Conclusions: Several FP services remain inaccessible to adolescents. The majority of health

facilities do not meet the criteria needed to provide friendly FP to adolescents. To improve the uptake of FP

among adolescents, health authorities need to take into account all elements considered important by teenagers.