Young people are not uniformly avoiding clinics, but there is a clear trend of young adults often delaying or underusing clinics compared to older age groups.
The reasons are complex and usually overlap, including structural barriers, psychology, digital habits, anxiety and social factors, which all play a role.
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This shift of young people not using clinics raises important questions about the underlying causes and the potential impact on public health. Understanding these reasons is crucial to addressing the gap and encouraging healthier habits among the youth.
The Spotlight Health website spoke to Pumeza Runeyi, a health officer at Doctors Without Borders (MSF). Pumeza says, “There are myriad reasons why young people don’t want to go to general clinics. Some young people fear bumping into neighbours or relatives at the clinic.”
She continued, “At times, most young people are fearful of being judged.”
Lack of youth-friendly services
Many clinics do not offer services tailored specifically to young people’s needs or fail to communicate in a way that resonates with them.
This lack of youth-centred care can make young patients feel misunderstood or neglected, prompting them to avoid clinics altogether. Many clinics are not designed with young adults in mind. Common issues include limited after-school or after-work hours, intimidating environments, or even a lack of youth-specific services.
Should youth-only clinics be the answer?
Most young people prefer “one-stop shop’ type of clinics where you get what you need all at once, instead of the long appointment dates and the runaround.
The answer to this question isn’t as straightforward as one would think, as there are many factors to consider from a political and economic standpoint.
Recognising the problem is the first step. The reason why youth are choosing to visit the clinic less frequently is that some clinics may not always be easily accessible due to location, limited hours, or long wait times. Young people, who often juggle school, work, and social commitments, may find it inconvenient to visit during traditional operating hours.
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According to the Department of Health, it continually strives for a proactive and preventative approach to health promotion and management for youth. There is a growing recognition of the behavioural patterns that lead youth to avoid visiting the clinic.
However, there are significant opportunities to improve the effectiveness of efforts to encourage South Africa’s youth to visit the clinic. From improving the health status of young people through the promotion of healthy lifestyles, to improving the health care delivery system by focusing on the accessibility, efficiency, quality, and sustainability of youth-friendly health services.
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