Access to and use of sexual and reproductive health services by adolescent girls in humanitarian crisis situation: The case of IDP sites in the City of Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Introduction This study investigates the factors influencing access to and use of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services by adolescent girls living in humanitarian situations within internally displaced persons (IDP) sites in the city of Goma. Goma is the most critically affected area, where conflicts are currently most frequently reported. Purpose The aim of this study is to identify and analyse the factors influencing access to and use of SRH services among adolescent girls living in IDP sites in Goma, with the goal of proposing appropriate and effective solutions to enhance their well-being. Methods This cross-sectional, analytical study involved 740 internally displaced adolescent girls. Quantitative data were collected using KoboCollect via a structured questionnaire. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression models. Results More than a quarter (26.5%) of the respondents had no formal education. The logistic regression results indicate that the factors most significantly influencing the use of SRH services are age (OR = 1.16, p < 0.05), marital status (OR = 1.735, particularly for married women), and the respondents' level of knowledge about SRH (OR = 1.2, p < 0.02). Conclusion Stigma, social restrictions, low levels of education, and limited financial resources are identified as major barriers to accessing and using SRH services. Integrated interventions are essential to enhance the utilisation of these vital services among women of childbearing age in general, and adolescent girls in particular.