Health experiences of adolescents in rural South East Ethiopia

Abstract

Adolescents have been left in the mainstream of care because they are regarded as healthier than the paediatric group and adults. Adolescence is a time of transition in which childhood is left behind, and pressures to become responsible adults are strong. Owing to lack of evidence-based, effective and adolescents sensitive interventions; Ethiopian adolescents’ become vulnerable for preventable health problems like unsafe abortion, substance use and abuse, unprotected sex and teenage pregnancies and STIs including HIV/AIDS and the associated morbidity and mortality. This study was conducted among purposely selected adolescents from rural South East, Ethiopia. A qualitative, grounded theory study was undertaken to explore the experiences of adolescents and perceptions of the adolescents towards health and health-related behaviours.The study composed of 25 purposely selected adolescents from the study setting. The required data was collected by one-on-one audiotaped individual interviews, persistent observation, and supportive field notes. The collected data were transcribed to texts and translated to English for analysis. Participants’ experiences and perceptions were presented using detailed textual descriptions and interpretations, supported by direct verbatim quotations of the participants. Data analysis was done following Creswell’s (2014:247) framework for data collection and analysis. Categories, themes and subthemes from the data were developed following Charmaz’s (2006:47-70) steps of grounded theory data analysis; initial coding, open coding, focused coding and theoretical coding. Five major categories and 14 themes emerged from the data in the current study. The five major categories emerged from the data include: adolescence sensitive health intermediaries, health related information and communication in adolescence, health challenges faced by adolescents, social and cultural perspectives of adolescents health and suggested health promotion strategies. The categories, themes and subthemes are outline and explained in the respective headings and subheadings.The study revealed that improved health information and communication as a core process for positive and better adolescent health outcomes and influenced by various contextual factors. Therefore, it is recommended to respective individuals, groups, governmental and non-governmental organisations working on adolescent’s health promotion in Ethiopia, to improve health information and communication systems rel ated determinant contextual factors identified in this research.