Utilization of adolescent-friendly health services and its determinants in a rural area of Maharashtra.

Context: Adolescent phase is a very crucial period in one's life, much emotional and psychological support is needed for an adolescent to bloom into a responsible adult. But unfortunately adolescents do not get the support or they fail to seek support due to lack of awareness. Government of India, to address this issue has established dedicated adolescent friendly health services (AFHS). This study estimates the utilisation of adolescent friendly health clinics in a rural area of Maharashtra. Aims: Aim is to the study the utilisation of adolescent friendly health services and its various determinants in a rural area of Maharashtra. Objectives: Objectives of this study were to assess the sociodemographic profile of study participants, to study the utilisation of adolescent friendly health services among them and to determine the factors associated with utilisation of adolescent friendly health services. Settings and Design: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted among 290 late adolescents from a rural area of Maharashtra from October 2022 to December 2022. Methods and Material: With the help of data from Gram panchayat about residing adolescents in the rural field practice area of tertiary care hospital, all late adolescents were included in this study after obtaining informed consent. Data was collected with and Statistical analysis was done using 'Open Epi Info' software. Results: Out of 290 adolescents, 35% (102) were aware of adolescent friendly health clinics (AFHS), 20% (58) utilised AFHS, the significant sociodemographic components for utilisation were found to be females (AOR: 2.161,95% CI: 1.088-4.295), Bauddha religion (AOR: 2.465,95% CI: 0.585-10.383), socioeconomic class I and II- B.G Prasad classification (AOR: 1.544,95% CI: 0.786-3.030), higher secondary education (AOR: 8.025,95% CI: 1.434-44.916) and Government schooling (AOR:0.389,95% CI: 0.080-1.889). Conclusions: Though initiatives are taken from the Government to lend a helping hand to the adolescents, awareness and utilisation seems to be minimal.