Magnitude of Sexual and Reproductive Health Service Utilization Among Youths and Adolescents Living With Disability in Ethiopia: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background and Aims Sexual and reproductive health services are essential for the well‐being of youths and adolescents, including those living with disabilities. There was inconsistent evidence on the magnitude of sexual and reproductive health services utilization among youths and adolescents living with a disability. Therefore, this review aimed to assess the pooled magnitude of sexual and reproductive health service utilization among youths and adolescents living with a disability. Methods Relevant databases including PubMed, Cochrane Library, AJOL, Semantic Scholar, Epistemonikos, Hinari, Google Scholar, and direct Google were used to search articles. This study included articles (both peer‐reviewed and preprints) in the English language from September 2013 to May 2, 2024. The pooled magnitude of sexual and reproductive health service utilization among youths and adolescents with a disability was estimated using a weighted DerSimonian‐laird random effect model. The I ² statistics were used to ascertain the extent of heterogeneity. The funnel plot, Egger's regression, and Begg's test examined publication bias. Results Based on this systematic review and meta‐analysis, the pooled magnitude of sexual and reproductive health service utilization among youths and adolescents with disability in Ethiopia was 29.11% (95% CI: 13.69, 44.53). Conclusions The overall pooled magnitude of sexual and reproductive health service utilization among youths with disabilities was low in Ethiopia. The Ministry of Health and other collaborating organizations working on youth and adolescents with a disability should give special attention to enhancing the utilization of sexual and reproductive health services for youths and adolescents living with a disability. It is important to develop and create strategies that enable young people with disabilities to utilize sexual and reproductive health services, thereby protecting the rights and respecting the dignity of individuals with disabilities.