Sexual and Reproductive Health Service Utilization and Associated Factors Among Young People With Disabilities in...

Disability is a major public health concern affecting about 16% of the global population. It results from the interaction of health condition and/or impairments with various contextual personal and environmental factors. All people need access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services, but young people with disabilities (YPWDs) need it even more. In Ethiopia, evidence indicates that YPWDs experience substantially limited access to SRH services. This study aimed to systematically identify, appraise, and summarize existing evidence on SRH service utilization and associated factors among YPWDs in Ethiopia. Eight electronic databases were searched for studies published between 2010 and 2024. Microsoft Excel and STATA software were used for data extraction and analysis, respectively. A random-effect model of meta-analysis was conducted. Heterogeneity was assessed using Cochrane's Q and I² statistics and a funnel plot was used to identify whether there is a publication bias among included studies. Findings are reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. Out of 2105 studies, 9 studies with 4066 YPWDs were included. The pooled prevalence of SRH service utilization among YPWDs in Ethiopia is 36.56% [95% CI: 29.58, 43.55], with P-value < .001 and I² = 95.76%. Good knowledge of SRH services was significantly associated with service uptake (OR 4.84, [1.16, 20.24], with P-value < .001 and I² = 87.3%). This study shows that SRH service utilization among YPWDs in Ethiopia remains low, with only 36.56% accessing the service. The significant association between knowledge of SRH and service uptake underscore the need for inclusive SRH strategies tailored to young people with disabilities through adapted communication and service delivery approaches.