The state of youth sexual and reproductive health problems and service utilisation in major towns of Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

This cross-sectional study assessed the prevalence of reproductive health issues and service utilization among youths in 13 urban towns in Ethiopia, involving 1954 community youths and 1261 students from higher education institutions. Findings revealed that 35% of youths engaged in high-risk sexual behavior (HRSB), over 14% experienced unwanted pregnancies, and only 26.7% had used sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services. Family planning (FP) usage among female youths was low at 26.4%. Service uptake was notably lower among unmarried youths, those aged 18–19, and individuals with limited access to SRH information. HRSB and unintended pregnancies were linked to poor education, lack of SRH knowledge, and multiple social media accounts. The study highlights the need for targeted SRH messaging through mass and social media to improve youth health literacy and increase access to reliable SRH services.

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