Knowledge, Attitude & Practice of Rohingya Adolescent Girls About Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH) Services Available from Adolescent Friendly Health Corner (AFHC) in Rohingya Camps, Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh

Background with objective

Adolescent friendly health corner (AFHC) aims to in¬crease sexual reproductive health (SRH) knowledge among adoles¬cents and to improve Adolescent Health Services which includes sexual health, reproductive health, maternal health, STI prevention and care, HIV/AIDS prevention and care, menstrual hygiene and man¬agement and family planning. This study finding will provide future directions in developing Adolescent Health Program particularly for the adolescent girls in the public health facilities to increase their knowledge on SRH and AFHC Services in the Rohingya makeshift camps. The aim of this study was to determine the level of knowledge, attitude & practice among Rohingya adolescent girls on SRH services available at Adolescent Friendly Health Corner (AFHC) in Rohingya Camps.

Methods

A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted with 126 Rohingya adolescent girls at makeshift camps of Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar from June 2020 to September 2020. Statistical analyses of the results were obtained by using window based computer software devised with Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS-20.1).

Results

Most of the respondents (47.80%) were aged in between 14-16 years. 65.60% respondents were studied up to secondary level. Nearly two third of the respondents (64.28%) were unmarried. 64.27% respondents knew that there is an AFHC in this camp, 54.27% knew that SRH services are available at AFHC, 53.47% respondents knew that SRH knowledge are given at the AFHC, 42.04% knew that if they face any SRH related issue, they can directly take support from AFHC, 32.60% respondents knew that they can share and discuss about your physical and physiological changes at AFHC, 55.89% knew that they can learn about SRH details at the AFHC, 52.19% respondents knew that AFHC is bound to maintain their privacy and confidentiality regarding SRH related issues and 26.38% knew that along with SRH, AFHC also disseminate knowledge on HIV. 34.27% respondents agreed that sexual education leads to more safe sex, 64.94% respondents agreed that in AFHC center, people lack sufficient knowledge concerning SRH, 61.11% respondents agreed that the teaching system at AFHC is insufficient about SRH, 9.56% respondents agreed that a teenage girl does not go into the kitchen during her menstrual cycle, 13.78% respondents agreed that during the menstrual cycle, an adolescent girl should not touch anyone, 9.11% respondents agreed that an adolescent girl during the menstrual period should not go to the AFHC and the rest 76.15% respondents agreed that in AFHC, I will receive all types of SRH related services and support. Only 37.20% respondents ever visited AFHC. Among those who have ever visited the AFHC, 54.90% respondents’ ranking was very good towards the AFHC service, 32.10% respondents’ ranking was moderate towards the AFHC service and the rest 13.00% respondents’ ranking was poor towards the AFHC service. 78.20% have visited the AFHC 1 to 3 times, 20.10% have visited 4 to 6 times and the rest 1.70% have visited more than 6 times. 29.10% felt problems in receiving AFHC services. According to 79.10% respondents, AFHC maintained privacy and according to 7.70% respondents felt insecured in the AFHC.

Conclusion

The adolescent girls should be encouraged and motivated to discuss about Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH) at Adolescent friendly health corner (AFHC) which might improve the knowledge and attitude towards SRH rights.