Table 4.

Overview of studies included in synthesis (n=19)

Study Author (Date)	Research Aim	Population of Interest	Data Collection Methods	Context	Country	Region	Quality
Sub-Saharan Africa
Alli (2013)	To explore to what extent interpersonal relations form a barrier to young people’s access to and satisfaction of health services among university students and providers.	Adolescents* (18–24) Providers**	Qualitative: 204 IDIs1	University health services	South Africa	South Africa	Primary
Berhane (2005)	To describe the health service utilization pattern of adolescents, assess their attitudes towards existing services, and their preference of services in terms of place, person and time.	Adolescents (10–24)	Quantitative: Survey (n=2647)	Secondary school	Ethiopia	East Africa	Secondary
Biddlecom (2007)	To assess adolescents’ use of sexual and reproductive health services, the barriers they face in accessing such services and their opinions and preferences regarding different sources of care.	Adolescents (12–19)	Quantitative: Survey n=5,955 (BF) n=4,430 (G) n=4,031 (M) n=5,112 (U)	National surveys	Burkina Faso(BF) Ghana (G) Malawi (M) Uganda (U)	South Africa	Primary
Cherie (2012)	To assess adolescents' knowledge of STI symptoms and identify perceived barriers to seeking STIs services among high school adolescents.	Adolescents (15–24)	Mixed Methods: Survey (n=316) 4 FGDs2 (n=38)	Urban high schools and clubs	Ethiopia	East Africa	Primary
Godia (2013)	To assess perspectives and experiences of health service providers on the SRH needs of young people.	Providers	Qualitative: 19 IDIs 2 FGDs (n=38)	Health Facilities	Kenya	East Africa	Primary
Godia (2014)	To explore the SRH problems young people face as well as their perceptions of available SRH services. Compared experience with integrated and youth targeted SRH services.	Adolescents (10–24)	Qualitative: 18 IDIs 39 FGDs (n=57)	Health facilities & youth centers	Kenya	East Africa	Primary
Kipp (2007)	To assess providers' perceptions and attitudes of important barriers for adolescents in receiving good quality RH services. Also to assess providers' attitudes related to adolescent sexual behavior and RH.	Providers	Qualitative: 10 IDIs	Health facilities	Uganda	East Africa	Primary
Langhaug (2003)	To explore the views of young people, nurses, and parents on the accessibility of existing reproductive health services for young people and the means for improving this.	Adolescents (16–19) Providers	Qualitative: 10 FGDs 16 Direct Observations	Community FGDs	Zimbabwe	South Africa	Secondary
Miles (2001)	To understand the social processes that inform young people's sexual health seeking behavior in rural areas with a focus on the influences of decision making in relation to seeking advice and treatment for STIs.	Adolescents (14–25)	Qualitative: 12 FGDs (n=97)	Village FGDs	Gambia	West Africa	Primary
Molla (2009)	To assess youth's use, perceptions of, and preferences for STI services from the perspective of both youth and providers.	Adolescents (15–24) Providers	Mixed Methods: Survey (n=3,743) 10 Provider IDIs	Village survey & health clinic interviews	Ethiopia	East Africa	Primary
Okereke (2010)	To examine the unmet reproductive health needs and health-seeking behavior of adolescents.	Adolescents (10–19) Providers	Mixed Methods: Survey (n=896) 4 FGDs 15 IDIs with Providers	Secondary school & community FGDs & survey	Nigeria	West Africa	Secondary
Asia & the Pacific
Char (2011)	To investigate whether young unmarried rural men in India are underserved in terms of SRH issues. To review their knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions about SRH.	Adolescents (17–22) Unmarried Men	Mixed Methods: Survey (n=316) 4 FGDs	Village FGDs and survey	India	South Asia	Primary
Kennedy (2013)	To assess barriers to accessing SRH services and describes the features of a youth friendly health service as defined by adolescents.	Adolescents (15–19) Providers	Qualitative: 12 IDIs 66 FGDs (n=353)	Community FGDs	Vanuatu	Pacific	Primary
Nair (2013)	To explore the perceived reproductive health problems, health seeking behaviors, knowledge about available services and barriers to reach services among adolescents.	Adolescents (15–24) Providers Community	Qualitative: 15 FGDs	Community FGDs			India	South Asia	Secondary
Prasad (2005)	To investigate the prevalence of RTIs in young married women and understand treatment seeking behavior.	Adolescents (16–22) Married women	Mixed Methods: Cross-sectional survey (n=451), 17 IDIs, 8 FGDs	Community FGDs & Survey	India	South Asia	Primary
Regmi (2010)	To explore young people's perceptions of barriers to accessing sexual health services and information, including condom-use.	Adolescents (18–22)	Qualitative: 10 FGDs 31 IDIs (n=50)	Colleges and youth clubs	Nepal	South Asia	Primary
Talpur (2012)	To assess attitudes towards services, awareness of and perceived barriers for sexual health services and education among young adults.	Adolescents (16–25)	Quantitative: Cross sectional survey (n=150)	Academic institutions	Pakistan	South Asia	Secondary
Tangmunkongvorakul (2005)	To describe the experiences and perspectives of young people with regard to obstacles to their safe sexual health outcomes and desirable health services.	Adolescents (17–20)	Qualitative: 82 IDIs	Community interviews	Thailand	Southeast Asia	Primary
Tangmunkongvorakul (2012)	To understand gender double standards and the ways in which these constitute barriers to successfully accessing sexual and reproductive health services.	Adolescents (14–20)	Mixed Methods: Cross-sectional survey, 30 IDIs, 16 FGDs (n=1745)	Community, non-formal educational centers, and schools	Thailand	Southeast Asia	Primary

¹IDI: In-depth interview

²FGD: Focus group discussion

^*Adolescents are defined as 10–24 for the purposes of this review

^**Providers category includes health service providers (doctors, nurses, health workers, etc.), NGO workers, and teachers. Some studies also include community and parental attitudes but these are not the focus of this analysis.