ADOLESCENT SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AT THE FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTRE, GUSAU: A QUALITATIVE ASSESSMENT OF SERVICE AVAILABILITY AND PROVIDER ATTITUDES

Abstract

Adolescents in Nigeria face significant sexual and reproductive health (SRH) challenges, including early pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and limited access to youth-friendly services.Despite national policies promoting adolescent SRH, service readiness and provider attitudes at tertiary facilities remain poorly understood. This study assessed the availability, appropriateness, and quality of adolescent SRHservices at a tertiary hospital in Northwestern Nigeria. A Qualitative assessment, conducted at the Federal Medical Centre, Gusau, using key informant interviews and facility observations guided by WHO adolescent-friendly service standards. Twenty-two healthcare providers from obstetrics/gynaecology and family medicine units were purposively selected. Data were analyzed thematically to explore service readiness,providerperspectives, and delivery barriers. The facilityprovides awide rangeof SRHservices
family planning, antenatal/postnatal care, and HIV/STI testing, but lacks integration and adolescent-specific pathways. Youth-focused materials, guidelines, and dedicated spaces are absent, and services operate only onweekdays.None ofthe providers had formal training in adolescent communication or SRH, leading to inconsistent practices and moral reservations toward contraception for unmarried adolescents. Identified barriers included sociocultural norms, judgmental attitudes, limited youth-rights awareness, and weak policy implementation. Overall, serviceswere available but not adolescent-friendly. The findings in this study have the potential to inform necessary interventions for improving Adolescent sexual and Reproductive health services in our study centre and in the country as a whole.