Promotion of awareness and utilization of youth friendly service through multi-sectoral cooperation mechanism in China

BACKGROUND: Youth friendly services (YFS) was established in pilot areas in China. This study aimed to explore the promoting level on the awareness and utilization of YFS after the implementing of a multi-sectoral cooperation mechanism (MSCM) supported by social network theory (SNT) among multiple sectors related to young people reproductive health (YRH) closely. METHODS: A cross-sectional study with two separate self-administered questionnaire surveys was conducted before and after the implementing of a MSCM supported by SNT in both in-school and out-school unmarried young people aged 12–24 year-old in pilot areas in China. Both pre- and post- implementation surveys were conducted between December, 2008 and January, 2009, and between October, 2010 and January, 2011 respectively. The collected categorical data about the awareness on YFS in young people was described in percentage (%). χ (2) test was used to compare the differences between interventional and control areas, pre and after intervention, and changes in investigated areas after the intervention respectively. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze interventional effects after adjusting gender, in-school or out-school, and other factors. Significance level α was 0.05. RESULTS: The percentages of young people in interventional areas who could receive YRH education including that about YFS in schools, working sites and communities increased (OR = 15.485, 6.166, 3.723; 95% CI: 2.939~4.715, 4.014~9.473, 11.421~20.994 respectively) statistically significantly (P < 0.05). The percentages of young people in interventional areas who “have heard of YFS clinic” and “know that YFS clinic has been established in local area” (OR = 9.325, 11.244; 95% CI: 7.433~11.699, 8.780~14.399 respectively), and knowledge rates on YFS manner and contents also increased (OR = 14.830, 8.676; 95% CI: 9.728~22.607, 5.175~14.548 respectively) statistically significantly (P < 0.05). The increments of knowledge rates on YFS price, time, hotline number, contents on contraception, pregnancy and sexual harass/violence were statistically significant (P < 0.05). The satisfaction degree on this service has also increased (OR = 6.394, 95% CI: 2.789~14.655) statistically significantly (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: SNT is a helpful tool to facilitate the construction of an effective multi-sectoral cooperation mechanism to promote the awareness and satisfactory degree of YRH services.