Health care services for young people: A joint construction among youth and health personnel

Background: To accomplish health indicators among youth and prevent risks that leave severe consequences, it is important to offer integral health care. Objectives: To identify perceptions, experiences and expectations about health services for youth and health care agents from the Zona de Ladera in the city of Cali. To develop a concerted strategy with youth and health care agents to improve health services under the «Friendly Youth Services» (SAJ abbreviation in Spanish) guide. Methods: Action - Research with participation of healthcare personnel, youth, and adolescents from 10 to 19 years of age, was conducted in a public health-care institution in the city of Cali. The methodology included interviews, focal and discussion groups to analyze results and define steps to change services for adolescents. Advocacy and proposals about resource management were made to the local authorities and decision makers. Results: The main findings were lack of time schedules for services to adolescents and the absence of educational materials for them. The study noted a lack of resources like equipment, well-trained personnel - especially with positive attitude toward adolescents, appropriate location for delivery of services, and community participation in health matters. The interview was answered by 100 young individuals, 76% were female, ranging from 12 to 26 years of age; the higher score about satisfaction was for physicians and the lowest was for nursing assistants. Respondents mainly seek physician attention. The service most frequently sought in the last three months was dentistry, vaccinations, and emergency attention (19.7%, and 11.8%, respectively). Conclusions: It is necessary and useful to reorient healthcare services for young individuals according to SAJ principles to emphasize health promotion, access to services, and skills and knowledge of health personnel to most appropriately care for the youth. Antecedentes: La atención integrada y amigable a los adolescentes en salud es un aspecto de vital importancia para el logro de indicadores en salud y para la prevención de comportamientos de riesgo que dejan consecuencias severas. Objetivos: Identificar la percepción, experiencias y expectativas de jóvenes y funcionarios de salud sobre los servicios a jóvenes de la zona de ladera de Cali, Colombia. Desarrollar una estrategia conjunta entre jóvenes y funcionarios para el mejoramiento de los mismos servicios de salud a partir de los lineamientos de los Servicio