Authors : Aminobiren Charles Omovidonor; Nama Kiinebari Faket

Volume/Issue : Volume 11 - 2026, Issue 1 - January

Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/ydwf3ve3

Scribd : https://tinyurl.com/5fczy33a

DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/26jan1481

Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.

Abstract : Despite improvements in availability, young adults in many low- and middle-income countries still do not use reproductive health (RH) services much. However, there is not much research on this in oil producing and semi urban areas like Bonny Island, Nigeria. This study aims to model and understand how young adults in Bonny Island use RH services and to find the social-demographic, knowledge based and access related factors that affect this use. A community based cross sectional survey was done with 800 participants aged 15 – 29 years. The use of a single RH service was used to define RH service utilization. A pretested questionnaire was used for the purpose of data collection. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the characteristics of the participants. Chi-square tests were then used to examine the relationships between pairs of variables. In addition, multivariable logistic regression using cluster-robust standard errors was used to calculate adjusted odds ratios (AORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The model’s performance was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating curve (AUC), pseudo –R 2 and calibration metrics. This showed that 59.6% of the participants reported using RH services. Furthermore, awareness of RH services was high, as 73.8% and 45.0% of the participants found the service locations convenient. In the multivariable analysis, none of the predictors reached statistical significance, and the effect estimates were small and uncertain, as indicated by confidence intervals that included one for all variables examined. These included gender [AOR: 1.01, 95% CI: 0.73 – 1.41], age groups, education, awareness of RH services [AOR: 0.87, 95% CI: 0.60 – 1.26], and service convenience [AOR: 0.86, 95% CI: 0.64 – 1.16]. The model showed poor discrimination [AUC: 0.549], had limited explanatory power (pseudo- R 2 ) and demonstrated poor calibration. Traditional socio-demographic, knowledge based and access related factors explained little of the RH service utilization observed among young people in Bonny Island. The model’s weak performance and the wide confidence intervals suggest that unmeasured factors, particularly service quality, confidentiality, stigma, and the nature of provider–youth interactions, are significant influences on utilization.

Keywords : Reproductive Health Services, Young Adults, Service Utilization, Logistic Regression, Bonny Island.

References :

1. A.M. Adebayo, E.M. Ajuonu, B.O. Betiku, and S.A. Adebowale, “Factors associated with sexuality communication between parents and adolescents in Nigeria,” Journal of Public Health in Africa, vol. 11(1), pp. 108–115, 2020. https://doi.org/10.4081/jphia.2020.108
2. F.F. Akanle, O.A. Adejumo, and A.I. Odebiyi, “Determinants of adolescents’ sexual and reproductive health service utilization in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review” African Journal of Reproductive Health, vol. 24(2), pp. 123–134, 2020.
3. J.O. Akinyemi, A.B. Oginni, and E. Omoluabi, “Adolescent-friendly health services and youth utilization of sexual and reproductive health services in Nigeria,” BMC Health Services Research, vol. 21, pp. 1043, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-021-07062-7
4. A. Bankole, and S. Malarcher, “Removing barriers to adolescents’ access to contraceptive information and services,” Studies in Family Planning, vol. 41(2), pp. 117–124, 2010.  https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1728-4465.2010.00232.x
5. A. Bankole, G. Sedgh, F. Okonofua, and C.  Imarhiagbe, “Barriers to safe motherhood in Nigeria,” African Journal of Reproductive Health, vol. 21(1), pp. 22–30, 2017.
6. A. Biddlecom, K. Awusabo-Asare, and A. Bankole, “Role of parents in adolescent sexual activity and contraceptive use in four African countries,” International Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, vol. 33(2), pp. 72–81, 2009.  https://doi.org/10.1363/3307207
7. V. Chandra-Mouli, D.R. McCarraher, S.J. Phillips, N.E.Williamson, and G. Hainsworth, “Contraception for adolescents in low- and middle-income countries: Needs, barriers, and access,” Reproductive Health, vol. 11(1), January 2014.  https://doi.org/10.1186/1742-4755-11-1
8. V. Chandra-Mouli, M. Plesons, A. Barua, et al., (2019). “Adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights: A stock-taking and call-to-action on the 25th anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development,” Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters, vol. 27(1), pp. 1–17, 2019.
9. E.A. Envuladu, H.A. Agbo, S. Lassa, J.H. Kigbu, and A.I. Zoakah, “Barriers to using adolescent-friendly reproductive health services in Nigeria,” African Journal of Reproductive Health, vol. 26(2), pp. 45–56, 2022.
10. N.A. Ezeonu, A.S. Nwabueze, N.N. Ezeama, I.U. Itanyi,  D.C. Obi, and  F. Odini,“Urban-rural differences and determinants of utilization of sexual and reproductive health services among males in Anambra state, South-eastern Nigeria,” BMC Health Ser Res vol 25(1),  pp. 784, 2025.
11. R. Firestone, R. Moorsmith, S. James, et al., “Intensive group learning and on-site services to improve sexual and reproductive health among young adults in Liberia: A randomized evaluation of healthy actions,” Glob Health  Sci Pract. vol. 4(3), pp. 435-51, 2016.
12. C. O. Izugbara, “Home-based sexuality education: Nigerian parents discussing sex with their children,” Youth & Society, vol. 39(4), pp. 575–600, 2008. https://doi.org/10.1177/0044118X07302011
13. John Cleland. Illustrative questionnaire for interview-survey with young people. Part II. Available at: https://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/topics/adolescence/questionnaire.pdf.
14. D.Y. Melesse, M.K. Mutua, A. Choudhury, et al., (2020). “Adolescent sexual and reproductive health in sub-Saharan Africa: Who is left behind?,” BMJ Global Health, vol. 5(1), January 2020. e002231.
15. K. Mmari, and  S. Sabherwal, “A review of risk and protective factors for adolescent sexual and reproductive health in developing countries: An update’. Journal of Adolescent Health, vol. 53(5), pp. 562–572, 2013.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2013.07.018
16. K. Mmari, A.M. Kalamar, H. Brahmbhatt, and E. Venables, “The influence of the family on adolescent sexual experience: A comparison between Baltimore and Johannesburg,” PLoS ONE, vol. 11(11), 2020. e0166032. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0166032
17. National Population Commission (NPC) [Nigeria] & ICF. (2019). Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey 2018. NPC and ICF. https://dhsprogram.com
18. A.N. Odo, E.S. Samuel, E.N. Nwagu, P.O. Nnamani, and C.S. Atama, “Sexual and reproductive health services utilization among adolescents in Enugu State, Nigeria,” BMC Health Services Research, vol. 18, pp. 833, 2018.
19. A.N. Odo, E.S. Samuel, E.N. Nwagu, P.O. Nnamani, and C.S. Atama, “Utilization of reproductive health services among young people in Nigeria: A cross-sectional study,” Journal of Public Health in Africa, vol. 11(1), pp. 1132, 2020.
20. V.I. Ogbonna, I.D. Alabere, and  O. Babatunde, “Adolescents in urban and rural communities in Rivers state, Nigeria: Factors influencing access and utilization of reproductive health services,” Ibom Medical Journal vol. 17(2), pp. 318-328, 2024.
21. P.O. Ogunjuyigbe, E.O. Ojofeitimi, and  A.Liasu, “Spousal communication, changes in partner attitude, and contraceptive use among the Yorubas of southwest Nigeria,” Indian Journal of Community Medicine, vol. 34(2), pp. 112–116, 2018.
22. F. E. Okonofua, “Addressing adolescent and youth reproductive health in Nigeria: Challenges and opportunities,” African Journal of Reproductive Health, vol. 17(3), pp. 1–5, 2013.
23. A. O. Olajubu, A. M. Adebayo, and  L. O. Ogunjimi, “Socio-cultural barriers to adolescent reproductive health service utilization in Nigeria” International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health, vol. 37(1), pp. 45–54, 2025.
24. A. O. Olumide, A. S. Erulkar, and O. O.  Banjo, “Perceptions of sexual and reproductive health services among young people in Nigeria,” African Journal of Reproductive Health, vol. 19(2), pp. 49–60, 2015.
25. A. G. Onokerhoraye, and J. E.  Dudu, “Perceived access and utilization of reproductive health services in Nigeria,” African Journal of Reproductive Health, vol. 21(2), pp. 55–66, 2017.
26. A. Tylee, D. M. Haller, T. Graham, R. Churchill, and L. A. Sanci, (2007). “Youth-friendly primary-care services: How are we doing and what more needs to be done?” The Lancet, vol. 369(9572), pp. 1565–1573, 2007.  https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(07)60371-7
27. F. N. Ugoji, “Determinants of sexual behaviour among adolescents in Nigeria,” Journal of Social Sciences, vol. 34(3), pp. 231–240, 2013.
28. United Nations. (2020). World youth report: Youth social entrepreneurship and the 2030 agenda.
29. World Health Organization. (2014). Health for the world’s adolescents: A second chance in the second decade. WHO.
30. World Health Organization. (2020). Sexually transmitted infections fact sheet. WHO.