INTRODUCTION : Adolescents aged between 10-19 years constitute 18% of the world population, i.e., about 1.2 billion. India has the largest number of adolescents comprising one-fifth of the country’s population. Adolescent health and nutrition status has an intergenerational effect. Services for adolescents are highly fragmented, poorly coordinated and uneven in quality. Adolescent friendly health clinics (AFHC) are designed to make health services accommodate the unique needs of adolescents. With this background, the present study was carried out to study the utilization of adolescent friendly health clinics in last one year in Tamil Nadu
METHODOLOGY : The study was a secondary data analysis conducted among the adolescent attended the AFHC in the year 2023-24 in Tamil Nadu. Proportion was calculated and key performance indicators of AFHC was analysed.
RESULTS : About 5% of male and 6% female adolescent utilized AFHC in the state. Skin problem consultation and anaemia management, nutritional counselling, referral to ICTC services are the major services utilized by the adolescent. Only 34%
of married adolescent used contraception.
CONCLUSION : Emphasis must be laid to create awareness & utilization of services among adolescents & their wards regarding AFHS. The health planners should make efforts to create a conducive environment for the adolescent by training the AFHS providers, particularly those who work in government institutions, and strengthening the awareness creation strategies among adolescents to increase the utilization of the services.