Sexual and reproductive health rights and the use of reproductive health services among women in Ile-Ife, Nigeria

Abstract

Background/Aims Reproductive health is an important part of a woman's general health and wellbeing. Being aware of one's sexual and reproductive health rights enables women to make informed decisions about and improve their sexual and reproductive health. This study assessed women's awareness of sexual and reproductive health rights and the use of sexual and reproductive health services in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional design was used for this study. Stratified random sampling was used to select 341 women of reproductive age in Ile-Ife. Data were collected with a structured questionnaire and analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics, with P<0.05 indicating significance. Results The majority (89.7%) of respondents had high awareness of sexual and reproductive health rights but reported poor use of sexual and reproductive health services (58.7%). The participants' age, marital status, occupation and distance to sexual and reproductive health facilities significantly influenced the uptake of sexual and reproductive health services. Conclusions Women in Ile-Ife were aware of their sexual and reproductive health rights but did not use sexual and reproductive health services. There is a need for health education to improve women's self-efficacy to use these services.