Reproductive Health Knowledge Research Articles

Knowledge, attitude towards, and utilization of friendly health services among school adolescents in the pastoral community of Guji zone, Ethiopia: an institution-based comparative cross-sectional study.

Although sexual and reproductive health for adolescents is a recognized fundamental human right and a critical component of health policy, it is poorly addressed and seldom researched in pastoral communities. The study aimed to determine the status of sexual and reproductive health knowledge, attitudes, and practice among pastoral school adolescents in Ethiopia. An Institution-based comparative study was conducted from Nov. 2020 to Jan. 2021. We conducted a comparative cross-sectional study at four randomly selected high schools. Seven hundred seventy-three adolescent students participated, with 384 from Gorodola and 389 from Wadara districts, Guji zone Ethiopia. The data was collected using 34 self-administered questions and analyzed using descriptive, t-test, and linear regression models. The study found that only 44.2% of all the participants had good knowledge, 46.1% had good attitudes and 35.4% had good utilization of Sexual and Reproductive Health Services. Respondents from Wadara High School had significantly higher mean knowledge scores (49.3% vs. 44.2%, p < 0.01) than those of Gorodola High School. There was no significant difference in mean utilization scores between case and compare (45.08% vs. 37%, p > 0.01). Adolescents who were not communicated on SRH matters, previously utilized FHS, and visited Friendly Health facilities were associated with poor utilization of sexual and reproductive health services. Wadera High School adolescents have better Sexual and reproductive health knowledge and utilization than Gorodola high schools. Community public health care providers in Wadara District explain the outcome through their contributions. Within the context of inherent disadvantage in the school environment setting, there is a need to improve sexual and reproductive health education with a greater emphasis on school girls.

Sex Education Among Recent High School Graduates

Abstract Introduction Sexuality education varies considerably from abstinence-only to comprehensive sex education and can influence knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors about sexuality. We examined the relations among types of sex education, sex-positive and purity culture attitudes, and sexual and reproductive health knowledge among a group of diverse high school graduates. Methods This study captured the sexuality knowledge and attitudes pursuant to the type of sex education received among a sample of 1005 high school graduates. Data were collected in the summer of 2023. We used ANOVAs, MANOVA, and linear regressions to examine relations among sex education type, sexual and reproductive health knowledge, sex-positive and purity culture beliefs, and participants’ self-reported readiness for their sexual lives. Results Participants who reported receiving abstinence-only sex education endorsed more purity culture beliefs and fewer sex-positive beliefs than those who experienced comprehensive sex education. Sexual and reproductive health knowledge was poor. Participants who experienced comprehensive sex education rated that education as better preparing them for a healthy sexual life compared to those who had abstinence-only education. Conclusions Findings reveal the relation of sex education type on attitudes toward sexuality and self-reported readiness for adults’ sexual lives. Policy Implications Policymakers, educators, and others who work with young people should champion sex-positive, comprehensive sex education. More work is needed to ensure sex education yields an informed public who can navigate their sexual lives effectively.

Women's knowledge of procreative health

Backround: A unique type of health is reproductive health, which represents the entirety of a person’s physical, mental and social well-being, not just the absence of disease or disorder. Reproductive health refers to all issues related to the reproductive system and procreation of women and men in all phases of their lives. Consequently, it includes topics such as puberty and menopause, fertility and infertility, family planning, health during pregnancy, childbirth, and the post-partum period, as well as cancers of the reproductive organs and breasts. This paper presents results of on women’s knowledge of reproductive health in several key areas: sources of information, understanding the concept of ovulation, awareness of factors that positively influence health, knowledge of the most and least fertile ages for women, and preventive measures related to the reproductive system. The aim of the study was to assess the knowledge of adult women aged 18 to 49 regarding reproductive health. Method: The study was based on a questionnaire survey analysed with the IBM SPSS Statistics 27 program. Results: The majority of surveyed women had knowledge about ovulation, with most obtaining their information from the Internet (22.3%). Nearly all female respondents (93.7%) knew what ovulation is. Most women do not use cycle self-observation (75%). The age of sexual initiation for most of the respondents was at 18. More than two sexual partners were reported by nearly 40% of women. Conclusions: The group of women studied was homogenous in terms of the selected qualification criteria, i.e.; all of them were of reproductive age. Fertility knowledge did not correspond with adolescent age of sexual initiation and declared number of partners, which is a risk factor for future reproductive health disorders.

Knowledge and experiences of adolescent girls and young women in the use of sexual reproductive health and HIV services at health facilities in Maputo City, Mozambique.

Knowledge and use of sexual reproductive health and human immunodeficiency virus (SRH and HIV) services are crucial for the prevention of pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW). This study aims to assess the knowledge and perceptions of AGYW about the SRH and HIV services offered in health facilities in Maputo, Mozambique. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted based on exit surveys with AGYW held at Zimpeto and 1° de Junho Health Facilities in Maputo City, between May 1, and June 9, 2023. Data were analyzed through descriptive statistics, t-test and ANOVA, using SPSS version 20. 590 AGYW, aged 15-24 years of age, were included in the study. In general, knowledge of SRH and HIV services was fairly high, with knowledge of each specific service offered ranging between 38% and 97%. Knowledge about SRH and HIV services differed depending on the health facility where the AGYW sought SRH and HIV services; the participant's age; their occupation; their religion, and who they lived with. Counseling services were the most commonly reported services attended, with >90% of participants reporting having received counseling for each of the following: STI and HIV and pregnancy prevention, sexuality, and safer sex practices. The quality of SRH and HIV services, and attitudes of the providers were considered good by >90% of AGYW. Roughly 95% of AGYW at Zimpeto Health Facility were either "satisfied" or "very satisfied". Whereas at 1° de Junho Health Facility, only roughly 75% of AGYW were either "satisfied" or "very satisfied", and roughly 20% of AGYW were "little satisfied that their needs had been met that day. Among AGYW there is high levels of knowledge about counseling services in contrast to diagnostics, treatment and clinical care. Specific attention should be given to ensuring appropriate physical infrastructure, such as dedicated adolescent friendly spaces and comfortable seating, and targeted interventions designed and implemented for those health facilities's identified. Targeted interventions should be designed and implemented for those HF's identified with lower AGYW perceived quality of service delivery.

Change in sexual and reproductive health knowledge among young women using the conversational agent “Nthabi” in Lesotho: a clinical trial

BackgroundYoung women worldwide face problems like unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. Providing sexual and reproductive health education to young women in low- and middle-income countries is a priority. It is unknown if using digital health interventions to deliver health education is effective in resource-constrained settings.MethodsWe conducted an interventional trial among young women in the low–middle-income country of Lesotho to test the impact of the conversational agent system (“Nthabi”) designed to deliver sexual and reproductive health information on either a smartphone or tablet for up to 6 weeks. We measured participant’s knowledge before and after the discussion of family planning, folic acid use, and healthy eating. The main outcome measure was a change in knowledge among participants in these three topic areas. The number of correct pre- and post-test responses was compared using generalized linear models that directly estimated the proportions and percentages of correct responses.ResultsWe recruited 172 young women (mean age 22.5 years, 91% unmarried, 69% completed high school, 23% unemployed, 66% students) to use Nthabi on a mobile phone (11.6%) or loaned tablet device (88.4%). The mean number of interactions with Nthabi was 8.6. Family planning was chosen to be discussed by 82 of the 172 participants (52.2%), and of those, 49 (31.2%) completed the content on this topic, and 26 (16.6) completed the post-test. For the 11 questions about family planning, the total percent of correct responses increased from 85.5% (796 total responses) on the pre-test to 89.9% (320 responses) on the post-test (p = 0.0233). Folic acid use was chosen to be discussed by 74 (47.1%) of 172 participants, and of those, 27 (17.7%) completed the content on this topic, and all 27 (17.7%) completed the post-test. For the 5 questions about folic acid use, the total percent of correct responses was 45.3% (181 total responses) on the pre-test and 71.6% (111 responses) on the post-test (p < 0.0001).ConclusionsThe Nthabi conversational agent system increased knowledge of family planning methods and folic acid use among young women in Lesotho. Digital health interventions like Nthabi have the potential to offer new ways to deliver reproductive health information.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov registration April 20, 2020; ID: NCT04354168.

Determination of Nursing Students' Levels of Knowledge in Sexual Health/Reproductive Health during Emergency Status and Influencing Factors

Aim: The aim is to determine nursing students' sexual/reproductive health knowledge levels and affecting factors in extraordinary situations. Method: This cross-sectional study was carried out with 356 nursing students between November-December 2023 at ……. University of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing. Data were collected through a survey including the Introductory Information Form and the Sexual and Reproductive Health Knowledge Scale in Emergencies (SRHKSE). Results: The mean age of nursing students was 20.53±2.57. The average score on the SRHKSE was 84.90±7.91. The sub-dimensions of the SRHKSE revealed the following average scores: women's health empowerment 46.17±4.72, material supply for implementing the minimum initial service package in emergencies 17.79±2.42, basic knowledge of the minimum initial service package in emergencies 10.07±1.27, and strategy and education for the minimum initial service package in emergencies 10.87±1.72. Nursing students who were female, in their 3rd year, had income exceeding expenses, had mothers with primary/secondary education, and had knowledge in reproductive and sexual health showed significantly higher SRHKSE scores (p&amp;lt;.001). Conclusion: In our study, nursing students exhibited high levels of knowledge in sexual and reproductive health during emergency status. The levels of knowledge in sexual and reproductive health during emergency status were found to be affected by gender, academic year, income level, maternal education, and awareness of reproductive and sexual health. It is recommended to conduct different research on the subject and develop the literature.

Pemberian Senam Low Impact untuk Meningkatkan Kesehatan Reproduksi bagi Remaja Siswa-Siswi SMAN 7 Malang

Adolescent reproductive health is a crucial aspect in the development of the quality of life for young generations. This community service activity aims to evaluate the effectiveness of low-impact exercise in improving reproductive health among students of SMAN 7 Malang. The method used is a participatory approach with low-impact exercise training conducted over 12 weeks. A total of 120 randomly selected students participated in this program. Reproductive health data were collected through questionnaires before and after the intervention, covering aspects such as knowledge of reproductive health, healthy living habits, and the frequency of reproductive health symptoms. Evaluation results showed a significant increase in participants' reproductive health scores after participating in the low-impact exercise program. The conclusion of this activity indicates that low-impact exercise can be an effective method in school reproductive health education programs. It is hoped that this program can be implemented routinely and become part of the physical education curriculum to improve adolescent reproductive health.

Knowledge gaps related to HIV and condom use for preventing pregnancy: a cross-sectional study among migrants in Sweden

BackgroundInformation and knowledge of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) plays a crucial role in promoting safe sexual practices among young migrants. We aimed to assess the sociodemographic factors of migrants associated with knowledge of condoms and the prevention, treatment, and transmission of HIV to highlight the need for SRHR information, including comprehensive sexual health education.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted (2018–2019) among migrants at Swedish language schools and high schools across Sweden. The survey included questions about knowledge of condom use for preventing pregnancy and HIV treatment and transmission. Descriptive statistics were calculated, and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the responses to the knowledge questions and sociodemographic characteristics.ResultsOut of 3430 respondents (median age: 35, interquartile range: 20), approximately 39% were unaware that condoms can prevent unplanned pregnancies. Only 58% of the respondents knew that condoms reduce the risk of contracting HIV. About 77% were unaware of HIV treatment, and 52% reported not knowing that a woman with HIV could transmit the virus to her baby during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Incorrect knowledge about condom use to prevent unwanted pregnancy was associated with several factors: younger age (15–19 years) adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.35; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.02–1.79); female respondents (aOR: 1.68; 95% CI 1.36–2.07); lack of previous sexual health education (aOR: 2.57; 95% CI 2.11–3.13); low level of education (aOR: 1.30; 95% CI 1.04–1.61). Originating from the Americas, European, or sub-Saharan African regions was associated with a 34–42% decreased likelihood of incorrect knowledge that condoms can reduce the risk of HIV infection compared to respondents from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). More than half (64%) of respondents reported needing more SRHR information.ConclusionsWe found significant knowledge gaps on HIV and condom use for preventing pregnancy among migrants in Sweden. Comprehensive sexual health education in language schools, along with information to newly arrived migrants from diverse regional backgrounds and targeted sexual health services to younger individuals, women, and those who lack sexual health education, are needed to address these information gaps and provide crucial SRHR education and information.

Well-informed or misinformed? News-Finds-Me perception in shaping sexual and reproductive health knowledge and behavioral intentions among Chinese women

The News-Finds-Me (NFM) perception reflects individuals’ belief of being well-informed even without actively seeking out news on social media. Despite studies examining the NFM perception in political and COVID-19 contexts, its implications in specific health contexts and the underlying mechanisms toward behavioral outcomes remain largely unexplored. Through a nationwide online survey of Chinese women residing in both rural and urban areas, this study revealed a positive association between the NFM perception and sexual and reproductive health (SRH) misperceptions, as well as an overassessment of factual knowledge. Furthermore, this study identified the mediating roles of knowledge miscalibration and SRH misperceptions linking the NFM perception to SRH behavioral intention. Notably, the relationship between the NFM perception and knowledge miscalibration was contingent upon individual differences in optimism regarding personal risks related to SRH diseases. The findings of this study not only extend the negative implications of the NFM perception in the SRH context and behavioral outcomes but also provide practical guidelines for promoting effective health learning in the contemporary algorithm-driven information environment.

TINGKAT PENGETAHUAN TALASEMIA, PENYAKIT MENULAR SEKSUAL DAN KESEHATAN REPRODUKSI PADA REMAJA USIA SEKOLAH MENENGAH PERTAMA

This PKM Activity aims to determine the level of knowledge of adolescents about thalassemia, sexually transmitted diseases, and reproductive health. The method used in this PKM is material presentation/ counseling and direct interviews using a questionnaire linked to the Google Form application. The results of this PKM activity were obtained as follows; The source of information that plays a dominant role in conveying sexually transmitted infections-HIV/AIDs is the internet, namely 57(53.4%). As many as 76(70.4%) students did not know about thalassemia. Surveys on sexually transmitted diseases/AIDs show that the average junior high school teenager has sufficient knowledge, namely above 50%. Surveys on reproductive health knowledge show that the average junior high school teenager has good knowledge about the physical changes that occur during puberty, including; 1) an Increase in muscle mass (30%), 2) a change in voice (71.8%), 3) hair growth on the face and pubic area (95%), 4) increased sex drive (33.6%). 5) enlarged breasts (17.3%), 6) menstruation started (40.9%). A survey limited to female respondents showed that the level of knowledge about the female reproductive cycle related to the fertile period in junior high school teenagers was around 24 (43.3%) respondents, but 30 (50%) respondents did not know this. The level of knowledge about the fertile period and the possibility of pregnancy occurring in that period are: 1) the response of not knowing was 26 (43.3%), people, 2) immediately after menstruation ended 14 (23.3%), 3) in the middle between two menstruations as many as 14 (23.3%). From the results obtained, it can be concluded that the level of knowledge of junior high school adolescents regarding thalassemia is still very poor, while for sexually transmitted infections and reproductive health, it is at an average level. It is hoped that after participating in PKM, teenagers will have a better level of knowledge than before.

Hubungan antara Karakteristik Calon Pengantin Wanita dengan Pengetahuan tentang Kesehatan Reproduksi di Puskesmas Tunjung Kecamatan Randuagung Kabupaten Lumajang Jawa Timur

The maternal mortality rate in Indonesia is still high at 4,400/100,000 births, likewise in Lumajang Regency at 97/100,000 live births. Various factors that influence the high maternal mortality rate include knowledge about reproductive health. In Lumajang Regency there is a regent's regulation about prospective bride and groom must report to the Puskesmas to obtain reproductive health information. Until now, in the coverage area of Tunjung Health Center, Lumajang Regency are not known about the connection between characteristics of the prospective bride and groom with knowledge about reproductive health, this research was conducted to find out. An observational analytic survey with cross sectional approach are used in this research. Fifty research samples were determined by the Lemeshow formula and total sampling technique. Data were collected using questionnaire that was created and validated. The results showed that most of the prospective brides were aged 20 to 35 years (63.64%), while the risk group in terms of age &lt;20 years was 36.36%. Most of education of the bride-to-be is in junior high school (52.73%) and 12.73% are elementary school. The highest income for prospective brides is under 2 million (69.09%) with 14.55% of them earning below 1 million. Sourcemost reproductive health information from teachers (47.27%) and parents (21.82%), the respondent group of prospective brides with less knowledge are only 5.45%. The results of statistical analysis with Pearson chi-square test showed there is a significant relationship between age and the level of knowledge of reproductive health. Keywords: age, education, income, reproductive health

Individual and relational dynamics perceived to influence the sexual behaviour of adolescents in Ethiopia: a qualitative study.

There are 1.2 billion adolescents in the world today, more than ever before, making up 16% of the world's population and nearly one-fourth of the total population in Sub-Saharan Africa. Adolescents are facing life-threatening health challenges attributed to sexual and reproductive health issues such as unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortions, and sexually transmitted infections, including the human immunodeficiency virus, and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. The aim of this research is to explore the individual and relational levels of factors that drive adolescents to engage in risky sexual behaviour. A qualitative phenomenological study design was used from February to June 2020. Adolescents and health professionals were selected purposefully. A total of 12 individual in-depth interviews, five focus group discussions with adolescents, and eight key informant interviews with health professionals were conducted using a semi-structured guide. Data analysis was performed using thematic analysis with ATLAS Ti version 7 software. Credibility, dependability, transferability, and confirmability were used to ensure the trustworthiness of the data. In this study, two themes were identified; individual level factors such as sexual desire and emotion driven sex, limited knowledge of sexual and reproductive health, and a permissive attitude towards sexual activities drive adolescents to engage in risky sexual behaviour; and relational level factors such as, limited family support and involvement, negative peer pressure and influence, male partner dominance during the partnership, and pressuring females to engage in sexual intercourse were perceived factors influencing adolescents to engage in risky sexual behaviour. Various individual-level and relational-level factors are influencing adolescents to engage in risky sexual behaviour. Socially and culturally acceptable, comprehensive sexual education should be provided for in-school and out-school adolescents to enhance their knowledge, attitude, and skill about sexual and reproductive health. Interventions at the peer and partner level should be considered to enhance the life skills that enable them to resist pressure from peers and their partners. Child-parent communication on sexual and reproductive health matters should be promoted.

The sexual and reproductive health knowledge of women in Australia: A scoping review.

Sexual and reproductive health (SRH) knowledge influences health literacy and promotes positive health behaviours. This scoping review explores the SRH knowledge of women in Australia and reports on knowledge assessment, ways of learning, enablers and barriers, and interventions to improve knowledge. Seven databases were searched for eligible articles published in English between 2012 and 2022. Eighty-five sources were included for analysis. Data were mapped by knowledge topic and population group and charted against four review objectives. Assessment of knowledge was the primary focus in 59% of sources. Two sources used a validated knowledge assessment tool. Knowledge was assessed using self-assessment, a measurement of correctness, or both. Women learnt about SRH through a range of sources, including healthcare providers, peers, family, internet, and school. Enablers and barriers spanned information content, delivery, timing, accessibility, interactions with those providing information, cultural and gendered norms, pre-migration experiences, and functional health literacy. Nine sources reported on interventions to facilitate SRH knowledge. This review identified topics, population groups, and gaps in assessment of SRH knowledge of women in Australia. Overall, the measurement of women's SRH knowledge is largely conducted using unvalidated tools focusing on specific topics. SO WHAT?: It is recommended a validated tool be developed to comprehensively assess the SRH knowledge of women in Australia allowing for intersectional population analysis and exploration of knowledge conceptualisation. This would enable assessment of interventions aiming to improve SRH knowledge thereby facilitating improved health literacy and outcomes.

Instagram as a Media for Reproductive Health Education In Young Women

The Indonesian Demographic Health Survey for Adolescent Reproductive Health in 2017 shows that there are still various health problems including low levels of knowledge related to unwanted pregna ncies, abortions and sexually transmitted infections. Knowledge of reproductive health is important for adolescents to deal with various physical and psychological changes they experience and prevent problems due to negligence in reproductive health. The research objective was to determine the effectiveness of health education through Instagram in increasing adolescent knowledge about reproductive health. This study is a pre-experimental research with one group pretest posttest design. The number of samples used were 50 female adolescene using Instagram. Sample is selected using purposive sampling technique. Data were collected using a questionnaire with a guttman scale and analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed rank test. The statistical test results obtained a p- value of 0.000 (p

Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices on Sexuality Education among Youth in Pakistan

This study aimed to explore the sexual and reproductive health knowledge, attitudes and practices among young people in Islamabad. The objectives of research were to determine the sexual and reproductive health related knowledge score of youth, resources they commonly used for knowledge and their attitude and perceptions towards abstinence only and comprehensive sexuality education. The research used quantitative data, collected through a self-structured questionnaire which was based on closed ended questions. The study is based on responses collected from young people of Islamabad city. Both convenience and snowball sampling techniques were used for data collection. Collected data was analyzed by applying descriptive statistics along with one way ANOVA and linear regression through Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26.0.The findings indicated a poor overall knowledge score among the youth, which was not affected by demographic variables. The most commonly consulted sources of information on sexuality education were found to be mass media, with formal education being the least consulted. A majority of the youth supported abstinence-only education at secondary school level, with comprehensive sexuality education being preferred at the college level. Study highlights need for effective sexuality education for Islamabad youth.

Studying Mothers' Knowledge and Perceptions of Adolescent Reproductive Health

Correction of: https://wmmjournal.org/index.php/wmm/article/view/142 DOI: https://doi.org/10.36749/wmm.4.1.8-16.2024 Background: Reproductive health education is obtaining information and forming attitudes and beliefs about sex, sexual identity, relationships, and intimacy. Mothers are the primary caregivers and have an essential role in providing reproductive health and sexual education to adolescents. Parents' lack of reproductive health education triggers deviation; therefore, parents, especially mothers, can provide comprehensive reproductive health education to prevent free sexual behaviour and sexual crimes in adolescents. Purpose: To measure the knowledge and perception of mothers about adolescent reproductive health Methods: This is a cross-sectional study with a descriptive design. The study involved 135 respondents who were selected using a purposive sampling technique. Analysis using descriptive, T-test and Pearson correlation. Results: More than 50% of respondents answered that adolescents' reproductive health education should be parents' responsibility and education should begin during elementary school. There was a correlation between mothers' knowledge and perception of adolescent reproductive health (r=0.44, p&lt;0.001). Most mothers were afraid of providing sex education due to their ignorance of teaching methods and their lack of knowledge, and mothers wanted to learn about adolescent reproductive health from experts. Conclusion: Mothers want to learn more about sex education from experts or health workers. They were interested in male/female sexual structure and sexual physiology. Open communication between mother and child on sex-related issues is essential. Providing accurate and up-to-date sex education information to parents is vital to effectively educating their children at home.

The Use of Sexual and Reproductive Health Knowledge and Services among Adolescents Students in Secondary Schools and Teacher Training College in Mtwara, Tanzania

The Use of Sexual and Reproductive Health Knowledge and Services among Adolescents Students in Secondary Schools and Teacher Training College in Mtwara, Tanzania

The effect of an educational peer-based intervention program on sexual and reproductive health behavior.

The fact that adolescent people experience risky sexual behavior and have insufficient knowledge of sexual and reproductive health (SRH)indicates the need for SRH education. This study investigates the impact of peer-educated SRH programs on the knowledge and behaviors of adolescents. This study was conducted as a randomized controlled trial on 275 university students. The subjects were randomly assigned to the peer educators (n = 25), intervention (n = 125) and control (n = 125) groups using systematic random sampling. Peer educators provided face-to-face SRH education to the intervention group. The researcher provided the same education to the control group via the online conference method. SRH knowledge and behavior evaluated with scales before, after, and 3 and 6 months after the SRH education. The obtained data were analyzed using SPSS version 25 through statistical tests and analysis of covariance. The female and male ratio of the participants was almost equal (49.4%, 50.6%). The mean age was found to be 20.42 ± 1.14 years. The mean scores of the students in the intervention group increased from 21.20 ± 0.14 to 35.20 ± 0.07 for sexual health knowledge questionnaire (SHKQ), and from 130.56 ± 0.55 to 147,90 ± 0,25 for reproductive health scale (RHS) after the education. Compared with the control group, these increases in the mean scores of SHKQ and RHS were found to be statistically significant. The findings show the important role of the SRH peer education method on the effect of transferring knowledge about sexual behaviors. Health and education policy-makers are advised to implicate SRH peer education.

P-491 Reproductive mental health empowerment: enhancing mental health literacy among women with reproductive health issues

Abstract Study question What is the role of mental health literacy and its impact on women’s help-seeking when there are reproductive mental health issues? Summary answer Mental health literacy and attitudes toward seeking professional help significantly predict one’s emotional well-being and help-seeking behaviour. What is known already Women who encounter reproductive health issues can experience an array of physical issues as well as emotional hurdles. There are barriers at the societal level that impede women from addressing these reproductive health-related mental health challenges, such as social stigma, lack of attention on mental wellness and a disproportionate amount of focus on the fertility treatments’ outcomes. There is limited understanding regarding the relationship between women’s reproductive mental health literacy and their tendencies to seek help in the literature. Study design, size, duration This study used cross-sectional data from an online questionnaire that explored the participants’ reproductive mental health literacy, attitudes towards seeking professional help and their actual help-seeking behaviour. Data were collected between July and September 2023. Participants/materials, setting, methods Participants were 356 Chinese women (mean age = 32.64±7.15) recruited through community network and social media. Participants answered questions related to their knowledge of mental illness, ability of seeking professional help, recognition of mental illness, acceptance of patients with mental illness, recognition of need for psychotherapeutic help, stigma tolerance, interpersonal openness, confidence in mental health practitioner, knowledge on community resource and their actual help seeking behaviour. Main results and the role of chance 59% of the participants attained a Bachelor’s degree or above and 74% were married. 43.5% of the participants experienced emotional disturbances triggered by reproductive health issues. Among these participants, 52% chose not to seek help from others. Among different types of reproductive problems, participants with fertility and reproductive health problem scored lowest in terms of help-seeking behavior (M = .28, SD = .45, p&amp;lt;.05., reproductive mental health knowledge (M = 27.29, SD = 4.39, p&amp;lt;.01), recognition of mental illness (M = 16.73, SD = 4.0,p&amp;lt;.05), recognition of need for psychotherapeutic help (M = 17.99, SD = 3.63, p&amp;lt;.01), and interpersonal openness (M = 16.85, SD = 3.35, p&amp;lt;.01). In terms of emotional disturbances, the result indicated that acceptance of patients with mental illness (b = -.035, p &amp;lt;.05) and recognition of the need for psychotherapeutic help (b = .068, p &amp;lt;.05) predicted the numbers of emotional disturbances one experienced. In terms of help-seeking behaviour, knowledge of mental illness (B = 1.30, p &amp;lt; .01), recognition of the need for psychotherapeutic help (B = 1.49, p &amp;lt; .01), and knowledge of community resources (B = 2.15, p &amp;lt; .01) significantly predicted one’s actual help-seeking behaviour. Limitations, reasons for caution There may be potential confounding factors that influenced the results, such as previous mental health history and use of mental health facilities. The ability to establish a causal relationship between reproductive mental health literacy, help-seeking attitude, and actual help-seeking is constrained due to the study’s utilization of a cross-sectional design. Wider implications of the findings Providing counseling for infertility plays a crucial role in addressing the emotional and psychological needs of individuals by reducing the stigma surrounding reproductive mental health challenges. Incorporating infertility counseling into fertility treatment empowers women with information and facilitates open and honest communication on mental well-being. Trial registration number Not applicable

Factors that influence sexual reproductive health knowledge among adolescent girls with disabilities in Kiambu County

Background/Aims Problems related to sexual health can have adverse effects on the overall health of adolescent girls, including those living with a physical disability. Improving sexual and reproductive health knowledge among this population can enable them to make informed decisions in relation to their sexual health. However, the sociodemographic characteristics that influence knowledge in this population have not been explored. This study investigated the influence of sociodemographic characteristics on the sexual and reproductive health knowledge of adolescent girls living with physical disabilities in Kiambu County, Kenya. Methods A cross-sectional mixed method study was conducted among 144 purposively selected adolescent girls aged 10–19 years old living with physical disabilities. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to gather data on participants' sociodemographic characteristics and their sexual and reproductive health knowledge. Odds ratios and logistic regression was used to analyse the data. Results One in five (20.8%) of the participants had already had a sexual experience, and only 24.3% of participants had good sexual and reproductive health knowledge. The majority of the participants (54.9%) had low socioeconomic status, which was the only factor significantly associated with level of knowledge (odds ratio=4.91, P=0.021). Conclusions Socioeconomic status is a major determinant of sexual and reproductive health knowledge among adolescent girls living with disabilities. Measures must be put in place to economically empower the families of these girls, to facilitate improved knowledge and thus ensure their sexual health and wellbeing. Implications for practice Education interventions are needed that are tailored to adolescent girls living with disabilities to promote reproductive health in this population.