Abstract

Despite the implementation of the national standards for Adolescent Friendly Health Services (AFHS) towards the prevention among others teenage pregnancy the, problem continues to rise across the regions of Namibia.  

This article presents the findings of a quantitative, cross-sectional, descriptive, analytical study regarding the implementation of the components on Adolescent Friendly Health Care Providers and the Adolescent Friendly Environment of the Adolescent Friendly Health Services standards by nurses in Otjozondjupa Region of Namibia.

Quantitative data were collected from 12 registered nurse midwives and 23 enrolled nurse-midwives who implement the AFHS at the health care facilities (through structured self-interview questionnaire) and 18 health care facilities that implement the AFHS in Otjozondjupa Region (through checklist) for triangulation of the data. The data were analysed using the SPSS Version 16 data base. Descriptive and inferential statistics were performed on selected variables to determine the relationship of variables.

The findings indicated that only 30% of the registered nurse-midwives compared to 75% of the enrolled nurses who implement the AFHS were formally trained in adolescent reproductive and sexual health issues. The findings further indicated that although 75% and 87% of the respective categories of nurse respondents indicated that they conduct school outreach activities, the initiative seems not being implemented effectively as can be inferred from only 14% of the registered nurse who indicated that they do conduct health education at schools. In the same vein, 90% of the health facilities had no spaces that were designated for the adolescent health services. Therefore, the recommendations were made in respect of the implementation of these two components of the AFHS standards at the health care facilities in the region.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.