Integration of Adolescent Health Needs Into Primary Health Care Services: Designing Care Model

Abstract

Integration of the health needs of all adolescent into primary health services will package all services together which leads to better health overall. Aims: toconduct a situational analysis of adolescent health needs in Assiut governorate, assess the primary health care facilities anddevelop a design model to integrate adolescent health needs into primary health care settings and assess its effectiveness. Methodology: cross-sectional and quasi-experimental design was used.Sample size was 350 adolescents (175 study and 175 control group) attending two health facilities (urban and rural)which were selected randomly. Three questionnaires were used. Firstly, pre and posttest interview structured questionnaire was used which developed according to evidence –based questionnaires. Secondly, Health care providers’ questionnaire asked question in the same modules of adolescent’s questionnaire. Last one, questionnaireto assess PHC services’ quality as perceived by adolescents. Results: One third of adolescents had moderate level of anxiety. Half of them were suffering from various level of depression. About two thirds of them hadn’t stress.Violence attitude is lower in studied group. The knowledge scores of all modules (mental, reproductive, Nutritional health, smoking / addiction, accidents and violence)  were significantly better among adolescents in studied group than control group. The majority of health providers had high level of knowledge.There are high levels of satisfaction among adolescents of most PHC services. Conclusion: Adolescents' knowledge, habits and beliefs were mostly inadequate as regards all modules. After implementation of the program remarkable improvement were achieved in adolescents’ knowledge and practice.

Keywords: Adolescent Health , Primary Services, Designing Care Model