Girls' access to adolescent friendly sexual and reproductive health services in Kaski, Nepal. Issue 3 (1st July 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shrestha, Sunita; Wærdahl, Randi
• Is Part Of: Asia & the Pacific policy studies. Volume 7:Issue 3(2020)
• Page Start: 278
• Page End: 292
• Publication Date: 2020-07-01
• Subjects: access to health care -- adolescents -- girls -- Nepal -- sexual and reproductive health; Policy sciences -- Asia -- Periodicals; Policy sciences -- Pacific Area -- Periodicals; Policy sciences -- Australia -- Periodicals; Political planning -- Asia -- Periodicals; Political planning -- Pacific Area -- Periodicals; Political planning -- Australia -- Periodicals; 320.6095
• DOI: 10.1002/app5.305
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2050-2680

Abstract

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to explore the limitations to girls' access to adolescent friendly sexual and reproductive health services in public health institutions in Kaski, Nepal. Seven interviews with health workers and eight group interviews with adolescent girls are analysed using the conceptual framework of access to health care by Levesque, Harris, and Russell and an understanding of gender as embedded in all matters and choices concerning sexual and reproductive health. We find that girls demonstrate poor literacy about sexual and reproductive health, and that most challenges and barriers occur before girls reach health institutions. The strict gender norms, stigmatisation and lack of autonomy are the highest barriers for adolescent girls in seeking care. We find that health institutions are not adolescent friendly and have a passive outreach strategy.