Making Health Services Adolescent-Friendly in Northeastern Peninsular Malaysia: A Mixed-Methods Study

Hafizuddin Awang, Azriani Ab Rahman, Surianti Sukeri, Noran Hashim and Nik Rubiah Nik Abdul Rashid
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Hafizuddin Awang: Department of Community Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian 16150, Kelantan, Malaysia
Azriani Ab Rahman: Department of Community Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian 16150, Kelantan, Malaysia
Surianti Sukeri: Department of Community Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian 16150, Kelantan, Malaysia
Noran Hashim: Maternal and Child Health Unit, Kelantan State Health Department, Kota Bharu 15590, Kelantan, Malaysia
Nik Rubiah Nik Abdul Rashid: Adolescent Health Sector, Family Health Development Division, Ministry of Health, Parcel E, Federal Government Administration Centre, Putrajaya 62590, Malaysia

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 4, 1-16

Abstract: A mixed-methods study was conducted in a Malaysian state beginning with a cross-sectional quantitative study to determine the relationship between clinic characteristics and clinic score of adolescent-friendliness. Subsequently, perceptions of healthcare providers on the facilitating factors for the provision of adolescent-friendly health services were explored qualitatively to support the quantitative findings. Availability of trained healthcare providers, adequate privacy, dedicated adolescent health services team, and adolescent health promotional activities were the clinic characteristics that significantly ( p < 0.05) related with clinics’ scores of adolescent-friendliness. The facilitating factors required for adolescent-friendly health services were (1) healthcare providers’ commitment and prioritization towards adolescent-friendly health services; (2) organizational supports; (3) appropriate clinic settings; and (4) external supports for adolescent health promotional activities. The qualitative findings reaffirmed those of the quantitative study on the significant clinic characteristics required for adolescent-friendly health services. This study provides valuable insight for the Ministry of Health to elicit the required facilitating factors to further improve the quality of adolescent health services in Malaysia.

Keywords: facilitating factors; adolescent-friendly health services; mixed-methods study; Malaysia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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