Volume : IV, Issue : IV, April - 2015

Capacity And Popularity Of Centres Providing Sexual And Reproductive Health Services To Unmarried Youth With Particular Focus On Yeovil, Greenside And Morningside Low Density Suburbs, Mutare Town, Mutare District, Manicaland Province

Eric S. M. S. Makura, Phillip Magaba, Elizabeth Chikwiri

Abstract :

The study sought to determine the capacity and popularity of Centres providing sexual and reproductive health

services to unmarried youth in Zimbabwe, but focusing only on Yeovil, Greenside and Morningside Low Density Suburbs, Mutare Town, Mutare District, Manicaland Province. Such servicesneeded to be studied, for sexual and reproductive habits have a
direct beå on the spread HIV/ AIDS.The study used both Health-Belief and Social Learning Theories in determiningthe capacity of Centres
providing sexual and reproductive health services to unmarried youth. The target population consisted of unmarried youth agedbetween
10 and 24 years old. A sample of 200 youths, equally representing males and females, was drawn according to ages 10-14, 15-19,and 20-24,
consisting of 8 - 12 participants per group. The study unearthed massive compelling evidence that showed that:As high as 88% of the respondents were aware of the existence of the Youth Centre in their respective area, while only as low as12% were not;as high as 87% of male
respondents and 86% of female respondents , respectively, stated that they are aware of the existence of the Youth Centre in their respective area; slightly below half of the male respondents, 35%, and half of female respondents, 50%, revealed that they had not at all visited the
Youth Centre in their respective area for the past 12 months. However, when probed further, majority of these youths, both males and females,
stated that if they were informed about the programmes at the Centres, they would certainly visit them for they had nothing else to do .Virtually all respondents unanimously agreed that, “ Project Implementation Strategy of using Youth Centres and Sports as the rallying point” has
not at all been in conflict with traditional practices; virtually all respondents were unanimous that the Youth Centre Project complimented
cultural and traditional practices; majority of respondents stated that parents, political and traditional leaders fully supported the Youth
Centre Project; and, as high as 85% of the respondents were ignorant of survival skills, which revealed the limited capacity of Youth Centres in
providing such crucial skills. The study recommends that: Youth Centre Staff should actively involve parents in their activities; Youth Centres
should negotiate with Financial Institutions for youths to be lent money for Income Generating Projects; and, that Youth Centres should take
cognisance of cultural diversity.

Keywords :

Article: Download PDF   DOI : 10.36106/ijsr  

Cite This Article:

Eric S. M. S. Makura, Phillip Magaba, Elizabeth Chikwiri Capacity And Popularity Of Centres Providing Sexual And Reproductive Health Services To Unmarried Youth With Particular Focus On Yeovil, Greenside And Morningside Low Density Suburbs, Mutare Town, Mutare District, Manicaland Province International Journal of Scientific Research, Vol : 4, Issue : 4 April 2015


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