Preferred Information Sources Research Articles

Factors Influencing Students’ Decisions to Engage in International Education Opportunities Post-COVID

International education opportunities are vital to students’ personal, professional, and educational development. Pre-COVID era research has found that students seek to participate in international education to learn about other cultures, enhance career development, gain world enlightenment, attain personal growth, or for leisure. However, minimal research exists about students’ decision-making factors to engage in international education opportunities post-COVID. The purpose of this study was to examine selected students’ preferred information sources, cues, and perceived challenges that influenced decisions to engage in international education opportunities post-COVID. Descriptive survey methods with a cross-sectional research design were used to gather data on students’ perceptions of international education opportunities. Respondents’ most preferred sources to learn more about international education opportunities were social media (university sites), friends, and academic advisors. Messaging cues that most attracted students’ attention were affordability, personal growth, and learning about another culture. Financial challenges, foreign language skills, and safety (in-country travel, diet, politics) were perceived as the most difficult challenges when deciding to engage in international education opportunities. Universities should make concentrated efforts to use targeted advertising through strategically identified sources and prioritized messaging cues that attract students’ attention and assuage their concerns about engaging in international educational opportunities.

Statin use for cardiovascular disease prevention: perceptions among people living with HIV in the United States

BackgroundPeople living with HIV (PLWH) may be at heightened risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Statin use and lifestyle changes reduce the risk of CVD but remain under-prescribed among PLWH. The objective of this study was to characterize knowledge of CVD and statin use, current usage, barriers to taking statins, and information desired by PLWH to improve statin uptake among PLWH in Los Angeles, CA.MethodsBetween April 2019 and April 2020, we conducted four focus group discussions (n = 37) with patients across three public community health clinics that serve PLWH in Los Angeles County, California. All clinics participated in a larger study to improve statin prescribing for PLWH. We asked about knowledge of statins, willingness to take a statin, possible barriers to statin usage, preferred information sources for health information, and desired information about statins. We utilized standard qualitative content analysis methods to identify themes.ResultsWe found a range in the awareness of statins, with some participants reporting never having heard of statins while others had a history of statin use. There were concerns about the potential long-term effect of statin use, but participants expressed willingness to use CVD medications generally and statins specifically, especially if recommended by their healthcare provider. Participants also expressed interest in potential alternatives to statin usage such as exercising regularly and nutritious eating.ConclusionsMore interventions are needed to increase statin use among PLWH to improve CVD outcomes, which also has implications for HIV progression. Clinics should aim to increase patient and provider knowledge about CVD risk and statin use for PLWH and provide shared decision-making tools that are easy to use and culturally appropriate.

Understanding preferences for receiving health communications and information about clinical trials: a cross-sectional study among US adults

Objective: Effective health communication is critical for understanding and acting on health information. This cross-sectional study explored participants' understanding of their health condition, their preferences for receiving health communications, and their interest in receiving clinical trial results across several therapeutic areas. Methods: The study recruited participants via social media, email newsletters, and advocacy organizations. An online screener captured demographic information (health conditions, age, race/ethnicity, gender, and education). Eligible participants were emailed an online survey assessing preferred sources and formats for receiving health information, interest in learning about topics related to the results of clinical trials, and health literacy levels. Results: In total, 449 participants (median age, 35 years [range, 18─76]; White, 53%; higher education, 65%; mean (range) health literacy score, 1.9 [0.4 ─ 3.0]) from 45 US states completed the survey representing 12 disease indications (bipolar, blood and solid tumor cancers, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, major depressive disorder, migraine, Parkinson’s, psoriasis/atopic dermatitis, retinal vein occlusion/macular degeneration, rheumatoid arthritis, and spasticity). Healthcare providers were the preferred source of health information (59%), followed by internet searches (11%). Least preferred sources were social media (5%), friends/family (3%), and email newsletters (2%). Participants preferred multiple formats and ranked reading materials online as most preferred (33%), along with videos (28%) and infographics (27%). Printed materials (14%) and audio podcasts (9%) were the least preferred formats. A majority of the participants reported that the health information they found was hard to understand (57%) and confusing (62%). Most participants (85%) were somewhat/very interested in learning about clinical trial results, with the highest interest in short summaries of safety (78%) and efficacy (74%) results. Conclusion: Effective health communication may be achieved via multiple formats shared directly by healthcare providers.

The Influence of Interpersonal Communication Participants on Child Nutrition Promotion in Kilifi County, Kenya

Purpose: This study analyzed the influence of Interpersonal Communication participants in the promotion of child nutrition in Kilifi County, Kenya.
 Materials and Methods: The study which was guided by the Social Penetration Theory and employed the mixed methods research design. A sample of 10 Health Professionals drawn from Public Healthcare facilities and 247 residents with children aged 5 years and below was drawn from Ganze Constituency in Kilifi County. Data was collected through questionnaires and interviews. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics while thematic analysis was used to analyze qualitative data. Data was presented in tabular form.
 Findings: The study found that multiple sources of child nutrition information existed and influenced the nutrition of a child in different degrees. Such sources included Health Professionals, Family members, Male care givers, opinion leaders and peers. Among these sources Health professionals were identified as the most preferred source of child nutrition information. Additionally, findings indicated that Interpersonal Communication participants largely contributed to the promotion of complementary feeding and an understanding of the effects of malnutrition.
 Implications to Theory, Practice and Policy: This study recommends that mechanisms should be put in place to monitor and evaluate messages emanating from informal sources of child nutrition information in order to negate any false narratives that can counter strides made in the promotion of child nutrition emanating from such sources. This study also recommends that Health Professionals should invest in developing a positive relationship with patients so as to increase the depth and breadth of child nutrition information they can provide.

Exploring Indonesian Primary Schoolgirls' Experiences of School-based HPV Vaccination, Knowledge of HPV Risks and Prevention, and Preferences for Cervical Cancer Education.

In 2016, Indonesia introduced its Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination demonstration program for girls in grades 5 and 6 of primary school, to reduce cervical cancer (CC) burden in selected provinces and test the viability of nationwide vaccination. This study explored schoolgirls' experience of school-based HPV vaccination, their knowledge of HPV and HPV vaccination, and their preferences for cervical cancer (CC) education. An online survey was conducted with schoolgirls who experienced HPV vaccination between 2019 and 2021 through the demonstration program. Using purposive sampling, respondents were recruited through partnerships with primary public health centres and primary schools in Jakarta and Yogyakarta. Data analysis was conducted using Chi-square test, Independent-samples t-test, and one-way ANOVA. One hundred and forty primary schoolgirls with a mean age of 12.2 years (SD = 0.70) completed the survey. Schools and mothers were identified as key actors in socialising children about important health information and as girls' preferred sources of information. The average summed score for girls' knowledge of HPV, the HPV vaccine, and CC after being vaccinated was 5.07 out of 10 (SD 0.23). Significant differences in the mean knowledge scores among participants with different preferences regarding CC education in school were observed. While schoolgirls' experiences of HPV vaccination were largely positive, their knowledge of critical health information regarding HPV vaccination and CC prevention needs improving. Thus, it is necessary to provide parents, and school-based educators with culturally appropriate strategies and comprehensive evidence-based information about HPV vaccination and CC prevention more effectively to children.

The impact of online health information source preference on intolerance to uncertainty and cyberchondria in a youthful generation

Background: The increasing utilization of the Internet to access health-related information is believed to heighten anxiety and trigger cyberchondria due to the presence of conflicting and sometimes overly detailed information. Aim: To investigate the levels of cyberchondria and intolerance of uncertainty among university students and their relationship with different online health information sources. Methods: Between June and July 2022, 420 university students (mean age = 21.5 ± 2 years, 54% female) participated in this cross-sectional study. The socio-demographic form, Uncertainty Intolerance Scale (IUS), and Cyberchondria Severity Scale (CSS) were used in data collection. Pearson correlation test and binary logistic regression analysis were used to identify factors associated with cyberchondria. Results: Forums and private hospital/clinic websites were the most frequently utilized online health information sources, while governmental websites were the least. The mean scores for CSS and IUS were 81.5 and 41.0, respectively. There was no significant gender-based difference in CSS and IUS scores. Students who used newspapers/magazines and social media for health information had significantly higher scores on both scales. Cyberchondria had a negative association with age [odds ratio (OR) = 0.90], a positive significant relationship with newspaper/magazine website use (OR = 7.24), and IUS score (OR = 1.09). There was a positive and moderate correlation between CSS and IUS scores (r = 0.39, P < 0.001). Conclusions: Our results underline the susceptibility to cyberchondria and intolerance of uncertainty among young adults who used less reliable online health information sources and highlight promoting online health literacy to reduce vulnerabilities and the need for further research on socio-demographic determinants in both mental problems.

Patient Perception on Osteoporosis in Korean Female Patients with Osteoporosis.

Patient perception is a key element in improving compliance with medications for osteoporosis. This study evaluated the awareness, perception, sources of information, and knowledge of osteoporosis among Korean women with osteoporosis. A questionnaire survey was conducted from July 22, 2021 to 13 August 2021. Patients who were followed up in endocrinology (Endo), orthopedic surgery (OS), and gynecology (GY) were recruited (N=40, 40, and 20 in each group). Patients were allocated according to their age, as follows: 15, 15, and 10 patients in their 60s, 70s, and 80s for Endo and OS, and 10 and 10 patients in their 60s and 70s for GY. The questionnaire was composed of the following topics: patient journey to the hospital, drug-related issues, communication with medical doctors, patient knowledge, and sources of information about osteoporosis. The results of medical check-ups were the most common reason for patient visits to the hospital for an initial diagnosis of osteoporosis (61%). A knowledge gap regarding mortality, refracture, and drug-induced osteoporosis was observed. Doctors were the most preferred and trustful source of information, while health-related TV shows were the second most common source of information. Patients with OS reported lower perceived severity and higher drug discontinuation, along with a higher proportion of fractures, as the initial reasons for hospital visits for osteoporosis. Variations in perceptions according to the issue and group were identified. These should be considered during patient consultations to improve compliance with osteoporosis treatment.

Exploring the perceived importance of neuroscientific research on addictions in legal contexts: a survey of US criminal justice students and German legal professionals

Purpose Neuroscientific research on addictions has prompted a paradigm shift from a moral to a medical understanding – with substantial implications for legal professionals’ interactions with and decision-making surrounding individuals with addiction. This study complements prior work on US defense attorney’s understandings of addiction by investigating two further perspectives: the potential “next generation” of legal professionals in the USA (criminal justice undergraduates) and legal professionals from another system (Germany). This paper aims to assess their views on the brain disease model of addiction, dominance and relevance of this model, the responsibility of affected persons and preferred sources of information. Design/methodology/approach Views of 74 US criminal justice undergraduate students and 74 German legal professionals were assessed using Likert scales and open-ended questions in an online survey. Findings Neuroscientific research findings on addictions and views that addiction is a brain disease were rated as significantly more relevant by American students to their potential future work than by German legal professionals. However, a majority of both samples agreed that addiction is a brain disease and that those affected are responsible for their condition and actions. Sources of information most frequently used by both groups were publications in legal academic journals. Practical implications In the USA, information for legal professionals needs to be expanded and integrated into the education of its “next generation,” while in Germany it needs to be developed and promoted. Legal academic journals appear to play a primary role in the transfer of research on addiction into legal practice. Originality/value This study complements prior work on US defense attorney’s understandings of addiction by investigating two further perspectives.

The impact of information needs satisfaction on the creativity of visual art teachers

PurposeThe aim of this study is to investigate how the information needs satisfaction of visual art teachers affects their creativity. Visual art teachers’ information seeking behaviour and specifically the association of information needs satisfaction with creativity has been an understudied area, despite competent information seeking being considered essential for high quality practices of art teachers.Design/methodology/approachA questionnaire survey was developed addressing the information seeking behaviour of art teachers, informed by Wilson’s model (1981), including visual art teachers’ information needs, information resources, obstacles faced while seeking information and the perceived impact of information needs satisfaction on visual art teachers’ creativity.FindingsThe study included 298 visual art teachers in Greece. The results demonstrated that the key information needs of art teachers were mainly related to materials’ properties, techniques for creating artwork and artwork promotion methods. Online information sources were the preferred sources of art information, followed by colleagues, personal collections and visits to galleries and museums. Our study identified lack of time, lack of specialized libraries and copyright, as the main barriers to information seeking.Originality/valueInformation about art plays a substantial role in visual art education, while visual art teachers’ information needs satisfaction positively influences their creative endeavours. There is a need to further explore the digital information needs of visual art teachers.

COVID-19 information seeking and individuals’ protective behaviors: examining the role of information sources and information content

BackgroundSeeking COVID-19 information promotes individuals to adopt preventive behaviors, including wearing a mask, social distancing, staying away from risky places, and washing hands. This study aims to investigate which information and sources individuals relied on in seeking COVID-19 information and further examine their roles in individuals’ adoption of preventive behaviors.MethodsThrough a statistical analysis of 1027 valid responses from citizens in different Chinese cities in 2022 to the self-designed items in an online survey, this study identified individuals’ preferred information sources and content on COVID-19. Regarding the information sources and content, the study used multiple regression analysis to examine their associations with individuals’ preventive behaviors, and further applied fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to explore their configurations that increase the likelihood of individuals adopting preventive behaviors.ResultsIndividuals preferred information about the newest prevention and control policies, precautions and treatment, and symptoms from the sources of workplace and community, social media, and social live streaming services. Additionally, individuals’ preventive behaviors were positively related to the workplace and community (β = 0.202, p <.001), social live streaming services (β = 0.089, p <.01), government department websites (β = 0.079, p <.05), television (β = 0.073, p <.05), and online news media (β = 0.069, p <.05), but were negatively associated with newspapers (β=-0.087, p <.05). Regarding information content, precautions and treatments (β = 0.211, p <.001), the newest prevention and control policies (β = 0.173, p <.001), symptoms (β = 0.152, p <.001), and official rumor-dispelling information (β = 0.082, p <.05) had a positive relationship with individuals’ preventive behaviors. In addition, fsQCA results presented eight configurations that promote individuals to adopt preventive behaviors. The total coverage and solution consistency values were 0.869 and 0.987, respectively. Furthermore, COVID-19 information content, the sources of social media and interpersonal sources, and official news media played an essential role in increasing the likelihood of individuals adopting preventive behaviors.ConclusionsOur findings demonstrated that individuals seek various COVID-19 information from multiple sources. The direct and degree of association of information sources and content with individuals’ preventive behaviors vary from source to source and from content to content. Information sources and content could combinatorially promote individuals to adopt preventive behaviors through several configurations.

Everyday Life Information Seeking

The purpose of this paper is to elaborate the everyday information seeking practices of urban teens and the benefits they get from these practices; moreover, demographic details of participants are also elaborated. In Pakistan many studies have been carried out on information need and seeking behavior of diverse groups, but not a single study has been done so far on everyday information seeking of Pakistani urban teens. This research is a humble endeavor to understand their daily practices that may lead to design systems for fulfilling their everyday information needs. For this purpose, a quantitative study was conducted employing a sample of 1000 urban teen participants who responded to the survey. Cluster sampling was done and the Likert scale was used to assess the written questionnaires, which were analyzed on the statistical software SPSS-21. These teens were from public and private schools of Pakistan. This data was collected by using Google forms. The results indicated that an easy access to teen’s preferred sources would play important role in their lives. It would be helpful for academicians to understand the teens’ ELIS behavior and reasons of their preferred information sources. This study will also be helpful for policy

On the brink: Examining preemptive indicators of preparedness inequity and social vulnerability to climate change hazards in Connecticut, USA

The current study is part of an ongoing effort to combine environmental, infrastructural, and socioeconomic data tied to specific locations to identify sites of preparedness-inequity, and generate information for crisis communication practitioners, emergency services, and state level disaster management. A cross-sectional survey was administered to a sample of 519 residents in four counties in Connecticut identified as vulnerable to climate-related hazard events using projected climate risk data from the US Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CJEST) (Justice40.gov) and socially vulnerable per the Social Vulnerability Index (SoVI). Geospatial analysis was used to map SoVI data and identify the Justice 40 risk factors of individual municipalities. These data were triangulated with participant data concerning risk awareness, information needs, preferred information sources, and trust in local emergency services. The results reveal racial and socioeconomic disparities in information sufficiency, self-identified preparedness, risk awareness, and trust and underline the need for emergency management to identify the sources of information sought by underprivileged residents and residents of color at the local level. While past studies have taken a variable-analytic approach to examining risk communication, this study aimed to inform our knowledge of the most underserved individuals when it comes to emergency messages and planning. The results have implications for developing effective and equitable messaging concerning environmental risks that consider vulnerability and audience behaviors within and across municipalities; and highlight the utility of combining social and geospatial data to develop new insights into best practices to improve crisis and risk communication in advance of disaster scenarios.

Women with ovarian cancer's information seeking and avoidance behaviors: an interview study.

Despite the importance of using information for ovarian cancer (OvCa) disease management and decision-making, some women with OvCa do not actively seek out information. The purpose of this study is to investigate factors that influence information seeking behaviors and information avoidance behaviors and information resources among women with OvCa and their caregivers. We conducted in-depth interviews with OvCa patients or caregivers of OvCa (n = 20) and employed deductive and inductive coding methodologies for analysis. Our analysis revealed 5 emerging themes associated with active information seeking behavior, 5 themes of passive information acquisition, and 4 themes of information avoidance behavior. Additionally, we identified participants' preferred information sources for OvCa management, such as health organization or government operated resources and web-based social groups. To enhance information access, strategies should be developed to motivate people with OvCa to seek rather than avoid information. The study emphasizes the significance of promoting patient-provider communication and leveraging strong social support networks for effective information acquisition. Our findings provide valuable implications for clinical practice and policymaking, emphasizing the need to improve access to information for individuals with OvCa. By addressing the identified factors influencing information seeking behaviors, healthcare professionals and policymakers can better support patients and caregivers in their information-seeking journey, ultimately enhancing disease management and decision-making outcomes.

Effective public health messaging for university students: lessons learned to increase adherence to safety guidelines during a pandemic

Variation in compliance with recommended safety behaviors early in the COVID-19 pandemic was especially concerning in places where people aggregated after traveling from a range of geographical areas, such as many universities. Understanding variation in these behaviors is important for continuing to address the COVID-19 pandemic and planning for future disease outbreaks. We examined the relationship between safety behaviors, risk perception, COVID-19-related knowledge, and information sources among university students during the Fall 2020 semester. A person’s preferred information sources were associated with differences in knowledge, risk perception, and protective behaviors. Furthermore, people with higher COVID knowledge practiced more protective behaviors. Providing reliable information can reduce harm during future global health crises, particularly at universities where interventions on campus can also protect the larger community, as spillover from universities has impacted the most vulnerable members of the surrounding communities. Our study adds to public health literature on factors influencing personal behaviors.

Awareness, knowledge, and attitude about shaken baby syndrome among parents in Qassim Region: a cross-sectional study

Objective: This study aimed to determine the level of knowledge, awareness, and attitude about shaken baby syndrome (SBS) among parents in the Qassim region, Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted that evaluated the SBS knowledge and attitude among the Qassim population by distributing a questionnaire to a sample that matched the criteria. Results: In total, 373 parents participated in the study, with 82.0% mothers, 49.1% over 40 years old, 98.1% Saudi citizens, and 95.7% married. Out of the 373 participants, 70% were not aware of SBS. The majority (85%) had poor knowledge about SBS, while only 15% had an excellent understanding. However, 85.3% of the individuals expressed interest in learning more about SBS. The preferred sources of information were the internet and social media (39.2%) and doctors or medical personnel during vaccination visits (31%). Interestingly, there were no significant differences in parental knowledge based on gender (p = 0.722) or nationality (p = 0.957). Conclusions: Parents in the studied region had low knowledge of SBS. Educational programs and awareness campaigns are needed to inform them about the grave consequences of this form of child abuse.

Psychosocial Needs of Breast Cancer Survivors in the United Arab Emirates (UAE)

Background: Despite the high prevalence of breast cancer, there is limited understanding of the psychosocial needs of cancer survivors in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Methods: A survey was conducted to assess the psychosocial needs among 205 breast cancer survivors in the UAE and the association of various socio-demographics and clinical characteristics with the psychosocial needs were analysed. Results: The informational needs were the highest (mean - 27.99 ± 11.02) among the study participants compared to other psychosocial needs. Healthcare specialists were the most preferred source of information for all the psychosocial needs. Individuals currently receiving treatment (p-0.006) and who had longer years of survival (p-0.006) had significantly higher informational concerns. Social and financial concerns were significantly higher in expats (p&lt;0.001), individuals currently receiving treatment (p&lt;0.001) and individuals with longer years of survival (p&lt;0.001). Conclusion: The study shows that there are unmet psychosocial needs among the breast cancer survivors in the UAE and the needs differ based on demographic and clinical characteristics.

Health Information Seeking Behaviour in University Students Sri Lanka

Health Information Seeking Behaviour (HISB) refers to the action individuals take to fulfil their health-related information needs. In today's information-rich world, understanding HISB has become crucial for developing effective strategies in information-seeking and health management. For university students, efficient HISB can alleviate health-related anxiety, enhance risk management, promote self-care, and empower informed decision-making, all of which can positively impact academic performance. The findings unveiled intriguing patterns in information source preferences, with 46.2% of students turning to the Internet as their primary source, 41% relying on interpersonal networks, and 13% consulting healthcare professionals. Notably, no students reported using mass media platforms for health information. Gender, year of study, degree program, physical activity, health literacy, self-efficacy, and perceived severity of health problems exhibited significant associations with the choice of information sources. For instance, male students preferred the Internet, while female students leaned towards consulting healthcare professionals and interpersonal networks. Second-year students primarily used the internet, while final-year students sought advice from family and friends. Those who work-activity turned to healthcare professionals, whereas sports-activity favoured the internet. Furthermore, students with low work activity showed reduced odds of using the internet. Interestingly, sports activity had a significant impact only among internet information seekers. Students with moderate health literacy were more inclined to consult family and friends. This comprehensive study provides valuable insights into the factors affecting HISB among university students, offering a nuanced understanding of their information-seeking behaviour. These findings have implications for health education and interventions promoting informed and responsible health-related decision-making among young adults.

Farmers Preferred Information Sources Regarding Climate Change Awareness in Mountainous Areas of Punjab, Pakistan

Climate change is one of the key challenges having adverse impacts on agriculture, which is the key source of food and livelihood. Information is a critical component in the process of climate risk management. Therefore, this study was conducted in mountainous areas of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to explore the preferred information sources of the farmers to cope the climate change. A total of 384 farmers were interviewed face to face on a structured interview schedule from District Rawalpindi of Punjab and Mansehra of KPK. Collected data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The results indicated that farmers had more reliance on electronic media gadgets for information seeking as least on social media gadgets. Fellow farmers and extension field staff were also rated as the preferred information sources of the farmers. This was deduced that farmers were emphasizing n traditional sources rather than modern tools of communication like social media. There is a need to promote the use of social media tools for information sharing for climate change awareness. Social media tools have the potential to meet the information needs of the farmers and have diverse contents to disseminate about climate change. Extension field staff should use social media gadgets for information dissemination among the farmers.

Features of building trust in municipal authorities among young Russians

The subject of this article is related to factors associated with the functioning of self-government as a social process. The main focus is on the level of trust in local authorities by citizens of different age groups. Research shows that trust in local self-government is closely linked to citizens’ civic activity. However, the analysis reveals an interesting situation: young Russians under the age of 25, despite their generally low interest in the socio-political aspects of society, demonstrate a higher level of trust in municipal authorities compared to representatives of other age groups. To study the specifics of the situation in more depth, the author of the article used an approach based on the generational characteristics of Russian society. The aim of the study is to identify the factors that motivate Russians under the age of 25 to trust municipal authorities more than representatives of other age groups. The authors of the article hypothesise that people of different ages may have different preferences for sources of information that shape their attitude towards local self-government, and this affects the level of trust. To test this hypothesis, data from representative population surveys conducted by the Institute of Sociology of the FCTAS RAS in 2016, 2018, and 2021 were used. The analysis of the surveys showed that contemporary Russian youth have a weak understanding of municipal authorities and how they operate in practice. Young people are not interested in traditional mass media through which the main information about municipal authorities is conveyed;instead, they rely on the opinions of people in their social circles. Young people have limited opportunities to obtain information about the activities of municipal authorities directly, as due to their age they have little experience of direct interaction with them. Therefore, an important source of information about municipal authorities for young people becomes observing how the activities of municipal authorities impact their local community. Significant part of young people are satisfied with the results of the activities of local authorities that they can observe. This satisfaction likely contributes to a higher level of trust in municipal authorities among this age group.

Sexual and reproductive health experiences, access to services, and sources of information among university students in Ethiopia.

Adolescence and youth are times of major growth and change that can place young people at elevated risk of poor sexual and reproductive health (SRH) outcomes, particularly when they are living away from home for the first time. Understanding the barriers that young people face when accessing SRH services and information is imperative for addressing their SRH needs; our study explored this topic among university students in Ethiopia. Specifically, we explore university students' SRH experiences, access to services, and preferred sources of information. We draw on mixed-methods research conducted in four public universities across Ethiopia in early 2020. A random sample of 822 male and female students completed a cross-sectional survey that explored SRH knowledge, attitudes, experiences, and sources of information. We also conducted 8 focus group discussions with students and 8 key informant interviews across the four universities. Survey data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and we used structural coding and inductive analysis to analyze qualitative data. The survey data demonstrated that condoms and emergency contraceptive pills were the most used contraceptive methods. Nearly 18% of female students had experienced an unwanted pregnancy, and 14% reported having had an abortion. Approximately one-third of students reported encountering gender-based violence in the past 6 months. Most students preferred receiving SRH information from mass media, and male students were more likely than female students to seek information from friends. Our qualitative findings highlight a lack of comprehensive SRH care available on university campuses, and services that are available are often of poor quality; participants described a lack of privacy, confidentiality and respect when accessing SRH care at school. University students also lack regular opportunities to learn about SRH while on campus, and their preferred sources of information varied widely. Ethiopian university students have considerable unmet demand for SRH services and often face significant barriers to accessing high-quality information and services on campus. Consistent commitment and investment by universities and the government is vital to meeting the SRH needs of young people during this potentially vulnerable time.