An assessment of the delivery of youth friendly health services in the Northern Cape

[摘要] English: Literature indicates that structural as well as functional accessibility and acceptability ofPrimary Health Care (PHC) services is a challenge facing the delivery of youth-friendlyservices in South Africa. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the delivery ofyouth-friendly services in the Northern Cape. A quantitative methodology using adescriptive design was selected for this purpose. Two hundred and fifty six (256) highschool-going females and males aged 13-21 who were selected conveniently from sixhigh schools in Kimberley, completed a self-report questionnaire. The results revealedconflicting perceptions about structural and functional accessibility and acceptability.The positive feedback focused on counselling and testing, communication, and attitude.With regard to the range of services offered to the youth, 51.9% (n=133) felt stronglyabout the provision of HIV counselling and testing, and acknowledged that the serviceswere available to them. Although not conclusive, some respondents stated that thehealth care workers communicate well (n=18/12.5%), and that health care workersunderstand when they (the respondents) talk to them. The nurses were furtherdescribed as good to very good listeners (55%), friendly (59.74%), competent (54.38%),respectful (50.87%), caring (46.53%) and lastly that they are helpful (61.20%). Morethan half of the respondents (64.3%) were of the opinion that the nursing staff at theclinic understand their needs.The negative feedback focused on operating hours, waiting time, treatment, and theattitude of health care workers. Eighty (34.2%) of the respondents said that they neverfind the clinics open, opposed to sixty-six (28.2%) that indicated that they seldom findthe clinics open. Several respondents (n=24/19.5%) stated their dissatisfaction with thetreatment offered to them. Nineteen respondents (15.4%) consulted a privatepractitioner for a second opinion after they have been treated at the clinic. Thirty-two(26%) described nurses as unfriendly, rude and judgemental.Respondents, 138 (55%) and 49 (19.5%) respectively, recommended longer operatingtimes ranging from 13-24 hours. Some 141 (56.6%) requested services to be available from Monday to Saturday, while fifty-four (21.7%) suggested that services be renderedSunday to Saturday. Twenty-two (20.5%) experienced problems with waiting areas.The structural and functional accessibility and acceptability of PHC services, especiallywith regard to the needs of the youth must be addressed. This conclusion is, forexample, based on the fact that no positive responses obtained the support of morethan 60% of the respondents, while problems with nurses was indicated by 69 (64.5%)of the respondents. High levels (>90%) of satisfaction on any issue addressed in thestudy, were not expressed. It is also recommended the school going youth beaccommodated as a one-stop service, services be extended to public holidays and thathealth care workers include the youth when planning health care programmes. It issuggested that further research be done on the delivery of youth services, where theyounger ages of 10-13 years are included, and the research be conducted in otherareas within the Northern Cape. The training of health care workers on youth-friendlyservices should be included in the curricula and such training should be extended toother provinces.

[发布机构] University of the Free State