Young people's perceptions of youth-oriented health services in urban Soweto, South Africa: a qualitative investigation

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Brittany Schriver, Emory University; Kathryn Meagley, Emory University; Shane Norris, Emory University; Rebecca Geary, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine; Aryeh Stein, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2014-12-05
• Publisher: BioMed Central
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2014 Schriver et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12913-014-0625-y
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: BMC Health Services Research
• ISSN: 1472-6963
• Volume: 14
• Issue: 1
• Start Page: 625
• End Page: 625
• Keywords: ADOLESCENT HEALTH; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; Science & Technology; BIRTH; ACCESS; PROGRAM; BARRIERS; CARE; Health Care Sciences & Services
• Research Categories: Psychology, Behavioral; Health Sciences, Public Health; Health Sciences, Health Care Management

Abstract

Background In 2006, the South African Department of Health adopted and scaled-up loveLife’s Youth Friendly Services (YFS) initiative to a national policy to improve youth utilization of health programmes by strengthening community sensitisation and counselling services. As these services roll-out, alternative services to target young people are also becoming more popular. Success of any of these services, however, is dependent upon young people’s perceptions of these health services as a whole. This paper aims to examine the knowledge and perceptions of current health services oriented towards young people and examine potential alternative approaches to health service delivery. Methods The study was conducted in urban Soweto, South Africa. Twenty-five in-depth interviews were conducted between May-July 2012. Twenty-three of these were analysed according to modified grounded theory. Results Knowledge of YFS was very low with no thorough knowledge of the programme’s purpose or activities. In general, young people were dissatisfied with the current health services in Soweto citing a lack of resources, long waiting times, and poor quality of care heightened by an underlying lack of choice and perceived inequity. When compared to alternative models of service delivery, no particular model was preferred over another. Conclusions Greater knowledge of whether and to what extent local clinics in Soweto are implementing YFS standards is needed. If implemented, improved outreach and advertisement is suggested. In-service training of nurses should be prioritized with a focus on sensitivity and equitable treatment to all.