| dc.description.abstract | Sexual and reproductive health services are critical to the well-being of adolescent girls,
yet those in humanitarian crises face several obstacles in accessing these essential services.
Despite recognition of these vulnerabilities, significant gaps remain in understanding the
specific SRH challenges faced by adolescent girls in South Sudan. The study adopted a
mixed method research design and targets adolescent girls aged 15-19 years. By adopting
purposive sampling, the study involved key informant interviews, focus group discussions,
and adolescent girls to gather comprehensive data. Descriptive statistics was used to
analyze the primary data of quantitative nature. SPSS Version 25 was used to analyze data
from the questionnaire. On the other hand, thematic analysis with NVivo software was
done for qualitative data. Ethical considerations included informed consent, data
protection, and culturally appropriate engagement with participants was used
appropriately. The study revealed that accessibility was the most influential factor (Beta =
0.311, p = 0.021), with long distances to clinics, poor transportation, and lack of youth friendly services as major barriers. Awareness and knowledge (Beta = 0.219, p = 0.032)
were hindered by inadequate school-based SRH education and reliance on peers, often
leading to misinformation. Psychosocial factors (Beta = 0.201, p = 0.001), including
stigma, fear of judgment, and trauma, significantly discouraged service utilization. Socio cultural and economic factors (Beta = 0.156, p = 0.002), such as cultural taboos and
poverty, had the least but still significant impact. The regression model indicated that these
four factors accounted for 52.4% of the variance in SRH service uptake. To improve SRH
service uptake, the study recommends establishing youth-friendly satellite clinics and
mobile health units in rural areas, to enhance geographic accessibility. Comprehensive
sexuality education should be integrated into school curricula, supplemented by peer
education and media campaigns to boost awareness. Community sensitization programs
involving leaders and parents are needed to destigmatize SRH topics. Healthcare providers
should be trained in adolescent-friendly and trauma-informed care, with strict privacy
protocols. Psychosocial counseling and peer support groups should be integrated into SRH
services to address emotional barriers. Finally, strengthening supply chains for SRH
commodities is critical to ensure consistent service availability. | en_US |
