The Non-Use of Services: Adolescents and Sexual Health Provision in Ankara, Turkey

Abstract

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to explain the sexual and reproductive health needs, barriers to accessing services as well as the expectations of the youth who do not use the services provided by the Youth Counseling and Health Service Centres in Ankara Province, Turkey. Design/methodology/approach - The study is based on the results of 12 focus group discussions conducted with young people in the 8th (14-to 15-year-old) and 12th (aged 17-to 18-year-old) grades who are not service users. Findings - The findings suggest that gender, socio- economic level of the family, religion, the condition of the facilities and the visibility of the centres are factors affecting service usage. Originality/value - The paper analyses factors that affect the use of services, such as male vs female, primary school vs high school, centre vs periphery, and shows how religion, region, gender, education and socio-economic dimensions have to be taken into account in understanding the sensitivity of sexuality-related issues among adolescents.