Reproductive Health Information and Practice among Female Undergraduates of Private Universities in Osun State, Nigeria

A A Alarape ,O.o Ogunniran ,Florence Adeola Omoba

doi:10.7176/jep/12-16-09

Abstract

The research investigated the extent of awareness of reproductive health information and practice of female undergraduate in private universities in Osun State. The study employed the descriptive survey research design. The population for the study consisted of all the female undergraduates of private universities in Osun state. A total of 500 female undergraduates of private universities in Osun state formed the sample for this study. Proportionate sampling technique was used to assigned sample size to each of the three randomly selected universities to ensure fair representation. Simple random sampling technique was employed to select sampled size assigned to each of the selected universities. The instrument used to collect data was questionnaire titled “awareness of reproductive health information and reproductive health practice (APRHIQ). Data collected were analysed using frequency count, mean and standard deviation. The findings showed that young people are sexually active as majority have started engaging in sexual activities while still in secondary schools. The findings also indicated that awareness of reproductive health information is of a very low extent (45.6%) and reproductive health practice of female undergraduate is of a high extent (54.4%). The study concluded that Reproductive Health Information awareness is very low while reproductive health practice of female undergraduate of private universities in Osun state tends to be favourable. The study recommended that in order to avert the imminent threat of explosion of sexually transmitted diseases, there is urgent need to start teaching family life and sex education in schools right from elementary school. Keywords: I nformation Awareness; Reproductive Health Information; Undergraduate, Reproductive Health Practice DOI: 10.7176/JEP/12-16-09 Publication date: June 30 th 2021

Highlights

Reproductive health (RH) education, a basic right for women, enriches their knowledge and awareness, providing them with the tools to understand their responsibilities and rights (WHO, 2008)
What is the extent of awareness of reproductive health information among female undergraduates of private universities in Osun state? ii
Findings and Discussion 8.1 Research Question One: What is the extent of awareness of reproductive health information of female undergraduates of private universities in Osun state?

Summary

Introduction

Reproductive health (RH) education, a basic right for women, enriches their knowledge and awareness, providing them with the tools to understand their responsibilities and rights (WHO, 2008). The disparity between international trends in RH and the state of affairs in these countries is linked to a shortage of skilled health services and lack of appropriate health services, the shortage of teachers able and willing to communicate about sensitive matter, and religious and cultural taboos (United Nation Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, 2018) All of these factors may contribute to a diminution in women’s self-confidence and ability to make informed RH choices. There is limited discussion of issues concerning reproductive health in general and sexual education in particular, in countries in the Middle East and Africa (Hall et al, 2012) They went further to say that, absence of knowledge means women are not in a position to make informed and correct RH decision or choices. It is often presented as an aspect of religion and always connected to Islamic teaching in such community

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Conclusion