Barriers in accessing sexual and reproductive health services for young women in a rural clinic in Alfred Nzo district, Eastern Cape, South Africa
Abstract
Access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services for young women is a global challenge, and South Africa is no exception (WHO, 2016). Less than 1% of adolescent girls and young women aged 15 – 24 years visit health facilities in Alfred Nzo district (DHIS, 2019/2020). This raises a public health concern, as sexual activity amongst young women is high, with the sexual debut for many girls in the district being as early as 14 years (UNFPA, 2016). Given the poor SRH outcomes for young women, exploring barriers to accessing these services by young women is critical.