Amiri, Masoud.

Ghafari, Mahin.

Shamsuddin, Khadijeh.

PubMed

Mahin Ghafari

Khadijah Shamsuddin

Masoud Amiri

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International Journal of Preventive Medicine

Barriers to utilization of health services: Perception of postsecondary school Malaysian urban youth

shahrekord university of medical scinces

Editorialwww.ijpm.in  .ij .ir805International Journal of Preventive Medicine, Vol 5, No 7, July, 2014Barriers to Utilization of Health Services: Perception of Postsecondary School Malaysian Urban YouthMahin Ghafari1,2, Khadijah Shamsuddin1, Masoud Amiri2Previous research has indicated that adolescents and young people trying to get access to accessible, affordable and acceptable health services which may face many barriers such as psychosocial barriers; for instance, they prefer to provide contraceptive products from drugstores located in other neighborhoods rather than ones located nearby.[1] In addition, different researchers have found various barriers of  accessibility of  young people to health services. For example, Scheppers and colleagues[2] classified potential barriers into three levels including patient, provider and system levels. Demographic and structural variables, health beliefs and attitudes, personal enabling resources, community enabling resources, perceived illness and personal health practices could be classified as patient level items while provider level may consist of  provider characteristics such as provider’s skills and attitudes. System characteristics like the organization of  the health care system could also be classified as barriers of  system level. Moreover, while provider’s attitude, practices and behaviors could classified as health care provider barriers, they could also act as related barriers to the providers’ ability to take care of  adolescents and young people.[2]Various factors such as inadequate time, flexibility, skills, and confidence in working 1Department of Community Health, Universiti Kebangsaan, Malaysia Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 2Social Health Determinants Research Center, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, IranDate of Submission: May 08, 2014Date of Acceptance: Jun 06, 2014Correspondence to: Dr. Masoud Amiri, Social Health Determinants Research Center, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran. E-mail: masoud.amiri@yahoo.comwith young people, and poor linkages with other relevant services can also be considered as major barriers to service provision among medical and community health center staff.[3] In addition, one of  the most important barriers to get access to reproductive health services is the fear of  being recognized by parents or people who may be familiar with them which has been shown in the study by Berhane and colleagues.[4] Another influencing factor may be the gender of  health care provider because the young adults could have some problems in explaining genital issues to a provider of  the opposite gender.[5] In fact, lack of  confidentiality, youth friendliness and accessibility of  available services could be main barriers which has been shown in the study conducted by Agampodi and colleagues.[6] Financial barriers are other significant factors which may affect health care of  adolescents.[1] Uncomfortable health care service which may lead to a negative experience could also be considered as a barrier of  seeking health care services.[7] Inadequate knowledge is another barrier which might hinder utilization of  family planning services by adolescents and young people.[8] Finally, inconvenient working hours might prevent adolescents’ access to health care facilities and their proper use of  the offered services.[9]How to cite this article: Ghafari M, Shamsuddin K, Amiri M. Barriers to Utilization of Health Services: Perception of Postsecondary School Malaysian Urban Youth. Int J Prev Med 2014;5:805-6.Ghafari, et al.: Barriers to utilization of health services in Malaysian youthsInternational Journal of Preventive Medicine, Vol 5, No 7, July, 2014806As part of  a larger study on youth risky behaviors and lifestyle in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, we studied the main barriers of  utilization of  health services among post-secondary school Malaysian urban youths between the ages of  18 and 24 who are students in government and private colleges and universities. Using self-administered pre-tested anonymous questionnaire, data were collected from 973 students between August 2010 and February 2011. The key  barriers to utilization of  health services identified were time constraint/ unsuitable service schedule (few clinics open evenings and weekends for working young adults, inconvenient office hours), long waiting time, work or study commitments, transportation problems, lack of  information/ lack of  awareness on adolescent friendly health services, financial constraints, negative attitude of  health care providers, and long distance needed to travel to adolescent friendly health service points. Other barriers identified by these youths were limited referral services, lack of  privacy, uncomfortable waiting place/ area, fear of  family knowing their health problems and lack of  clear guiding signs on directions to services locations.We found that adolescents and young adults faced many barriers which prevent their use of  health services. These barriers could influence adolescents and young people’s present and future health status since they in fact need a wide range of  health services. In addition, adolescents and young adults insist on their own privacy and confidentiality. They would prefer access to youth-friendly health facilities that carry no stigma, are situated at a convenient location, offer convenient hours of  operation, afford privacy, and provide information and educational materials. They would also like youth-friendly support staff  to treat them with respect, and not prejudge them. Most of  these barriers might be addressed by current programs serving adolescents and youth; however, the most important action which can be implemented by the Ministry of  Health for young people and adolescents, is the selection, training, and supervision of  health care providers to work with youths, with a major emphasis on attitude (non-judgmental attitude), respect for young people, and the development of  communication skills to improve appropriate provider-clients communication. Access and utilization of  Adolescents and Youth Friendly Health Services by young people is a significant issue that should be taken into account by policy makers, program planners and health service providers when providing services to this group.REFERENCES1. Belmonte LR, Gutierrez EZ, Magnani R, Lipovsek V. Barriers to Adolescents’ Use of Reproductive Health Services in Three Bolivian Cities. Washington SC: FOCUS onYoung Adults/Pathfinder International; 2000.2. Scheppers E, van Dongen E, Dekker J, Geertzen J, Dekker J. Potential barriers to the use of health services among ethnic minorities: A review. Fam Pract 2006;23:325-48.3. Kang M, Bernard D, Booth M, Quine S, Alperstein G, Usherwood T, et al. Access to primary health care for Australian young people: Service provider perspectives. Br J Gen Pract 2003;53:947-52.4. Berhane F, Berhane Y, Fantahun M. Adolescents’ health service utilization pattern and preferences: Consultation for reproductive health problems and mental stress are less likely. Ethiop J Health Dev 2005;19:29-36.5. Munthali A, Zakeyo B. Do They Match? Adolescents’ Realities and Needs Relating to Sexuality and Youth Friendly Service Provision in Dowa District, Central Malawi; 2011.6. Agampodi SB, Agampodi TC, Ukd P. Adolescents perception of reproductive health care services in Sri Lanka. BMC Health Serv Res 2008;8:98.7. Fox HB, Philliber SG, McManus MA, Yurkiewicz SM. Adolescents’ Experiences and Views on Health Care. Washington, DC: The National Alliance to Advance Adolescent Health; 2010.8. Williamson LM, Parkes A, Wight D, Petticrew M, Hart GJ. Limits to modern contraceptive use among young women in developing countries: A systematic review of qualitative research. Reprod Health 2009;6:3.9. Booth ML, Bernard D, Quine S, Kang MS, Usherwood T, Alperstein G, et al. Access to health care among Australian adolescents young people’s perspectives and their sociodemographic distribution. J Adolesc Health 2004;34:97-103.Source of Support: This research was founded by a grant from the UKM-GUP-TKP-08-23-077 Malaysia, Conflict of Interest: None declared.

Barriers to utilization of health services: Perception of postsecondary school malaysian urban youth

Barriers to utilization of health services: Perception of postsecondary school malaysian urban youth

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