Utilsation of sexual and reproductive health services in rural South Africa: Knowledge, perceptions and experiences of youths in Mutale Village in Limpopo Province

Abstract

Sexual and reproductive health is an essential form of human health. Consequently, it is a fundamental right for every South African. However, young people in South Africa have limited access and exposure to reproductive and sexual health services. Thus, this study aimed to analyse young people’s knowledge, perceptions and experiences with sexual and reproductive health services in Mutale village, Thulamela Municipality. A mixed method approach was used in this study, following a descriptive survey design. Both purposive and snow-ball sampling were used to select a total of 126 participants. Data were collected using one-on-one semi-structured interviews and questionnaires. The qualitative data were analysed using thematic analysis, while the quantitative data were analysed using descriptive analysis by SPSS version 19.0 to establish descriptive values, as well as the standard means, deviations, and frequencies from the collected data. The study findings established that young people face many challenges in accessing sexual and reproductive healthcare. Similarly, there is a minimal awareness on SRH services offered in health facilities, which affected their use of those services. Young people’s use of SRH services was also affected by religion and attendant social norms, values and beliefs that regard SHR as improper for young people, misconceptions regarding side effects of the use of pill and injection-based contraceptives, which are misconceived as a cause of infertility. It also emerged that the attitude of local healthcare workers in local health facilities also discouraged young people’s usage of SRH.