Reproductive Health Of Young People Research Articles

Multigenerational attitudes to gender norms on intimate partner violence and the sexual and reproductive health of young people in Nigeria

This study undertook an assessment of multigenerational attitudes towards gender norms related to intimate partner violence (IPV), sexuality, and reproductive health behaviours. A cross-sectional household survey was conducted among 1630 young people and adults, in six communities in Ebonyi state, southeast Nigeria. In data analysis, mean attitude scores were computed and compared across generation cohorts using analysis of variance. Attitudes toward each domain of intimate partner relationships served as the dependent variables in three separate linear regression analyses, where the predictors were identified accordingly. The results showed that the differences in mean scores on attitudes towards gender norms about IPV and sexuality in intimate partner relationship were not statistically significant across the generation cohorts (p > 0.05). However, there were significant differences in the attitudes of generation cohorts towards gender norms relating to sexuality and reproductive health behaviour. The sociodemographic predictors of attitudes to gender norms on IPV were male gender (β = 0.106, p = < 0.001) and urban residence (β = 0.075), p = < 0.001), while tertiary education predicted attitudes to gender norms on sexuality (β= − 0.156, p = 0.012) and reproductive health behaviour (β= − 0.216, p = < 0.001). The findings highlighted generational similarities and differences in attitudes towards gender norms in intimate partner relationships. Generational differences were shaped by factors such as age, gender, and education level. Conducting longitudinal studies could reveal how these attitudes evolve and societal changes’ impact.

Health literacy and socioeconomic characteristics of young people in Serbia and their influence on reproductive health and sexual behaviour.

Having adequate level of health literacy is a very powerful tool of improving health. "Emerging adulthood" is described as a period between age of 18-25 years, characterized by changing life circumstances, developing personality and exploring possibilities. The aim of this study was to establish the relationship between health literacy and socioeconomic status of young adults in Serbia and their individual influence on the reproductive health and sexual behaviour. This research was conducted as observational, cross-sectional study. We used STOFHLA to assess the health literacy level of young people and general information questionnaire for demographic, social and economic characteristics of respondents, health knowledge and behaviour in the area of reproductive health. Chi-square test was performed to assess the existence of association between categorical variables using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Results of our research found significant connection between levels of health literacy and age groups, marital status, but also connection with living in rural place. Socio-demographic factors and health literacy levels had significant impact on various aspects of sexual behaviour and reproductive health knowledge. The importance of this research is reflected in its contribution to a clearer understanding of the impact of health literacy and socioeconomic status on the reproductive health of young people in Serbia, with the aim of improving public policies, health interventions and educational programmes, which would contribute to reducing health inequalities, improving health outcomes, and developing targeted educational initiatives.

Health Workers' Attitudes Toward Adverse Gender Norms and Implications for Young People's Sexual and Reproductive Health in Nigeria.

Adverse gender norms within the health care system are detrimental to the sexual and reproductive health of young people. This study assessed the attitudes of health workers toward adverse gender norms related to intimate partner relationships across three domains: intimate partner violence (IPV); sexuality; and reproductive health behavior. A cross-sectional quantitative survey was conducted among 255 health workers in youth-friendly primary health centers in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Attitudes to gender norm statements were assessed on a 3-point scale of agree (3 points), partially agree (2 points), and disagree (1 point). Mean attitude scores were estimated for each statement and the predictors of attitudes were determined through multiple linear regression analysis with p-value set at .05. Majority of the health workers held gender biases regarding male control over sexual decision-making, men's higher desire and value for sex, and the woman's responsibility to prevent pregnancy. Over 40% of the respondents associated women carrying condoms with promiscuity, and 39.6% believed that only men have the "social" rights to purchase condoms. Urban residence predicted health workers' attitudes to adverse gender norms related to sexuality (β = -.179, p = .003). Findings from this study provide a basis for in-service training programs that are designed to change the attitudes of health workers to adverse gender norms and transform their practices.

Factors associated with unintended pregnancy and contraceptive practices in justice-involved adolescent girls in Australia.

Despite a decline in unintended teenage pregnancy in Australia, rates remain higher amongst justice-involved adolescent girls, who are more likely to be from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds, have histories of abuse, substance use and/or mental health issues. Furthermore, exposure to the criminal justice system may alter access to education and employment and opportunities, potentially resulting in distinct risk-factor profiles. We examine factors associated with unintended pregnancy, non-contraceptive use and Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC) in a sample of sexually active, justice-involved adolescent girls from Western Australia and Queensland. Data from the Mental Health, Sexual Health and Reproductive Health of Young People in Contact with the Criminal Justice System (MeH-JOSH) Study was analysed on 118 sexually active adolescent girls. Participants were aged between 14 and 17 years, purposefully sampled based on justice-system involvement and completed an anonymous telephone survey. We constructed two multivariate models taking reproductive outcomes as the dependent variables. Over one quarter (26%, 30/118) reported a past unintended pregnancy, 54 did not use any contraception at their last sexual encounter, and 17 reported LARC use. Following adjustments in the multivariate analysis, lifetime ecstasy use was associated with both unintended pregnancy (aOR 3.795, p = 0.022) and non-contraception use (aOR 4.562, p = 0.004). A history of physical abuse was also associated with both any contraception (aOR 3.024, p = 0.041) and LARC use (aOR 4.892, p = 0.050). Identifying as Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander, education/employment status and geographic location appeared to have no association. Our findings suggest that justice-involved adolescent girls have distinct risk factors associated with unplanned pregnancy and contraception use compared to the general population, but more research is required to understand the mechanisms and contexts underlying these risk factors. How exposure to physical violence may encourage contraception and LARC use, in particular, warrants further attention as does the association with ecstasy use.

Zdravstvena pismenost studenata strukovnih studija zdravstvene orijentacije

Objective. The main objective of this research was to determine whether and to what extent the level of health literacy affects the reproductive health of young people. Methods. The research belongs to the group of epidemiological studies, conducted according to the type of cross-sectional study. It was carried out in the period from 1st to 17th of June, 2019.A total of 230 students of professional health studies participated in the research. The questionnaire, in addition to demo-graphic data, contained the S-TOFHLA health literacy test and specially designed questions about reproductive health. Results: Our research showed that six respondents (2.61%) had inadequate health literacy, 80 (34.78%) had marginal health literacy, and 144 (62.61%) had adequate health literacy. Greater health literacy is associated with sexual activity, number of partners and the use of anti-baby pills. Health literacy is influenced by many factors, including knowledge of reproductive health, age, gender, sociodemographic factors, economic status, level of education, and more. Insufficient promotion of sexual education in our society, potential mistrust in the official education system and the desire of respondents to independently research this area. Conclusion. More than two thirds of students show the adequate level of health literacy. Students who are older in terms of age and years of study have a higher level of health literacy. This research can serve as a starting point for the creation of new programs on reproductive health and health literacy, especially those aimed at the population of health professionals.

Самооценка репродуктивного здоровья будущими врачами.

The reproductive health of the younger generation is of particular medical and social importance. The state of health of today’s youth, their reproductive potential and attitudes will be reflected in the demographic situation of Russia’s future. To maintain and improve the reproductive health of young people, a whole range of medical measures is being implemented. Of interest is the state of reproductive health of future doctors who receive a comprehensive education in the field of health care and have the highest level of knowledge about risk factors and health-saving technologies. T h e p u r p o s e o f t h e s t u d y : to analyze the responses of medical students to assess their reproductive health and commitment to maintaining it. M a t e r i a l s a n d m e t h o d s . An anonymous survey of 460 medical students studying at medical universities in St. Petersburg was conducted (September-October 2022). Methods of analytical and descriptive statistics were used. R e s u l t s . There is a low effectiveness of activities to inform adolescents about sexual education and reproductive health. Most students do not consider their own health as a priority for the coming years, give a low assessment of their physical condition, rarely go in for sports or do not do it at all, every second eats irregularly. A third of young people suffer from acute and chronic extragenital diseases, and every fifth has a pathology of the reproductive system. 72.6% of girls and only 21.4% of boys visit a gynecologist/urologist/andrologist at least once a year, more often for preventive purposes. During sexual intercourse, respondents prefer barrier contraceptives that meet the requirements of availability, reliability and ease of use. C o n c l u s i o n s . When developing strategies for improving and maintaining reproductive health, gender differences, medical and social characteristics and motivation of young people should be taken into account. To improve reproductive health-saving behavior, it is necessary to increase the availability of preventive measures, incl. anonymous counseling.

Reply by Authors.

Reply by Authors.

Contraceptive access experiences and perspectives of Mexican-origin youth: a binational qualitative study

Contraceptive access experiences and perspectives of Mexican-origin youth: a binational qualitative study

Sexual and reproductive health of young people in Greece: knowledge, attitudes, practices and sexual health profile of 249 individuals

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Knowledge, Practices and Associated Factors to Sexual and Reproductive Health of Young People of Cotonou, Bénin in 2022

Background: The sexual and reproductive health of young people is a public health priority, especially in developing countries such as Benin. The objective of this research is to measure the level of knowledge and practices of young people regarding sexual and reproductive health and the factors associated with it in the city of Cotonou in 2022. Subjects and Method: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study with an analytical focus on a sample of 318 young people aged 15 to 25 years, randomly selected in the community by three-stage cluster sampling. The dependent variables were young people's overall knowledge of sexual and reproductive health with the modalities 'good knowledge' and 'poor knowledge' and young people's SRH practices with the modalities 'good practices' and 'poor practices'. The independent variables were socio-demographic data and individual background and factors. The data were analyzed by logistic regression. Results: In the study population, 51.3% were male with a sex ratio (M/F) of 1.05. The overall level of good knowledge of young people on sexual and reproductive health was assessed at 13.5%. The overall level of good sexual and reproductive health practices of young people was assessed at 72.6%. Good sexual and reproductive health knowledge was more prevalent among young people over the age of 19. The risk of having good SRH knowledge increased eightfold when the type of household in which the young person spent their adolescence was monogamous (OR = 8.03; 95% CI= 2.12 to 30.44; p= 0.017) compared to the single-parent/ isolated household. Conclusion: Promoting sexuality education from early adolescence within communities would be a high-impact solution to improve the quality of sexual and reproductive health of young people and the general population. Keywords: sexual and reproductive health, sexual and reproductive rights, youth, Benin.

An analysis on the roles and involvements of different stakeholders in the provision of adolescent sexual and reproductive health services in Southeast Nigeria

IntroductionSexual and reproductive health of young people involve a lot of stakeholders, traverse different sectors, and cut across all levels of government. For a clearer understanding of the activities of these stakeholders in adolescent sexual and reproductive health (ASRH) services, this paper was designed to explore the positions, attitudes and involvements of government/public institutions and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in ASRH policy-making processes and implementations in Ebonyi State, Nigeria.MethodsThe evidence was generated from a cross-sectional qualitative study, with data collected through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions from 81 and 59 stakeholders in adolescent sexual and reproductive health, respectively. A mapping tool was used for the stakeholder analysis.ResultsThe State Ministry of Health (MOH) was identified as playing a major role in ASRH policy development and so was categorized as a ‘savior’. However, out of nine public institutions, four were categorized as ‘trip wire’ because they had non-supportive attitudes, weak powers and passive interests in ASRH policies and programs. All the NGOs were categorized as ‘friend’, because of their weak, but favorable disposition to ASRH policy-making processes. Regarding the implementation of ASRH programs, most public institutions were categorized as ‘savior’. Similarly, most of the institutions were classified as ‘trip wire’ at the local government level, in relation to ASRH policy development. Only, the offices of traditional rulers/village heads and local government administrative secretaries were regarded as ‘friend’, while the public schools were classified as an ‘acquaintance’. Concerning the implementation of ASRH programs at this level, public secondary schools, the offices of local government administrative secretaries and local government focal persons on ASRH were categorized as ‘savior’, while town union/ward development chairmen were considered ‘friend’. Few stakeholders, including, religious leaders were classified as ‘savior’ regarding engagement with local authorities on ASRH matters.ConclusionAlthough key stakeholders appear to play supportive roles in the implementation of ASRH programs in Ebonyi State, many of the relevant government and non-government institutions are not involved in the policy-making process. There is a need for more intentional and active involvement of relevant stakeholders in policy-making for better ownership and sustainability of ASRH interventions.

Sexual and Contraceptive Behaviour of Adolescents and Young Adults in Germany

Abstract Background For 40 years the Federal Centre for Health Education in Germany has been analysing the contraception behaviour of young people. The current Survey is the ninth iteration, carried out in 2019. This continuous monitoring generates insights on the sexual and reproductive health of young people in Germany. The survey provides an important basis for the development of sexuality education and family planning measures. Methods A total of N = 6032 adolescents and young adults participated in the survey. Date collection was conducted by computer-assisted personal interviewing (CAPI). The current sexual and contraceptive behaviour of adolescents and young adults will be summarized using descriptive results. In addition, the association between contraception non-use and sociodemographic factors, characteristics of sexuality education and situated factors of first sexual intercourse is analysed by multivariate logistic regressions. Results A key finding of this iteration is that with regards to the age of the first sexual intercourse, the proportion of adolescents younger than 17 years has been declining for several years. For contraception, adolescents most frequently used condoms, and use of the pill has decreased. 9% of the participants reported non-contraception use at first sexual intercourse. This is significantly associated (p &amp;lt; .01) with unexpected and only unilaterally desired sexual intercourse and the absence of sexuality education in School. In addition, the younger the adolescence were at first sexual intercourse the greater the risk for contraception non-use. Conclusions The data from the current iteration indicate safe and responsible contraceptive behaviour among young people in Germany. It is important to maintain the commitment in the field of sexual health promotion and expand prevention measures for young people. This is the only way to ensure the sexual and reproductive health also in the next generation. Key messages

Sexual attitudes and associated factors of risky sexual behaviors among university students.

IntroductionRisky sexual behaviors. Adequate awareness of reproductive health in young people is important because they are in the early years of fertility, and engaging in risky sexual behaviors is more probable. This study aimed to evaluate the sexual attitude and associated factors of risky sexual behaviors among girls and boys and the difference in sexual norms by gender among university students.MethodsA university‐based study with a cross‐sectional survey was conducted for 9 months in 2019. A total of 800 university students were studied by a random sampling technique using a self‐administered structured questionnaire derived from the World Health Organization illustrative questionnaire to assess sexual attitudes among adolescents and young adults.ResultsMost of the respondents were female and single. Girls were more religious, more frequently visited the cinemas and were more likely to discuss sex matters with family members than boys. There was no significant difference in the total score of sexual attitudes in girls and boys, and both genders had negative attitudes toward risky sexual behavior (42/72). Those who go to parties, bars, or movies are more likely to have risky sexual behavior. Being a religious person is an essential predictor of having less risky behavior (RR = 2.02, 95% CI = [0.96, 3.41]).ConclusionBeing religious was a protective factor for engaging in risky sexual behavior. More interventions in schools and universities need to educate students to enhance awareness about the consequences of risky sexual behavior and reduce its rate.

Sexuality education for young people in Germany.Results of the 'Youth Sexuality' representative repeat survey.

The Federal Centre for Health Education (BZgA) has been conducting the ‘Youth Sexuality’ representative survey on a regular basis since 1980. This continuous monitoring generates insights into the sexual and reproductive health of young people in Germany and constitutes an important basis for evidence-based health communication.A total of N=6,032 young people between the ages of 14 and 25 participated in a combination of oral and written interviews (Computer Assisted Personal Interviews (CAPI)).As primary sources of knowledge for, adolescents state that they obtain information through school lessons (69%), personal discussions (68%), and the Internet (59%). In addition to these sources, professional gynaecological counselling and sexuality education at home are also important sources of information. To what extent trusted contact persons are available in the family depends heavily on the adolescents’ sociocultural backgrounds.Providing information and disseminating knowledge to young people in the field of sexual and reproductive health is organised intersectorally in Germany. In this way, it is possible to also reach those who do not have any contact persons at their disposal in their direct family. Maintaining and strengthening the current commitment in promoting sexual health is of key importance, as only this will ensure the next generation’s sexual and reproductive health, and provide an evidence-based counterbalance to anecdotal information, especially in the digital domain.

Accessibility and Utilization of Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health Services Among Undergraduate Students

Background: Young people's reproductive health services have been largely neglected in the past, leaving them vulnerable to reproductive health problems like Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), unintended pregnancy, unsafe abortion and other harmful practices. Although studies have been done on Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health, a persistence of reproductive health problems among undergraduates in Nigeria, especially in the Universities necessitated this study. Methods: The study utilized a descriptive cross-sectional design involving 357 students of randomly selected faculties in the university of Ibadan. A self-administered semi-structured questionnaire was used to assess the accessibility and utilization of Sexual and Reproductive Health Services (SRHSs) among the students. Statistical analysis of data was done using IBM-SPSS version 21.0 software, associations and differences were then tested using Pearson’s correlation test (with significance set at P≤ 0.05), while descriptive data were presented in frequency &amp; percentages. Results: The study found that 70.8% of the respondents have high access to SRHSs, while more than 67.3% underutilized those services. Attitudes of staff in the clinic, religion, cultural practices, longer waiting periods, and lack of privacy were all identified as factors that negatively affect the accessibility and utilization of SRHS. Gender (p=.012), and Accessibility (p=.000) were found to be significantly associated with Utilization of SRHSs. Conclusion: Despite high accessibility, most students still do not utilize available SRHSs. To ensure that young people have access to sexual and reproductive health care in all nursing practice sites, nurses need to gain the knowledge and hone the skills required to deliver evidence based counseling and services to adolescents.

"It Was a Mistake, but We Knew That Something Might Happen": Narratives of Teenage Girls' Experiences With Unintended Teenage Pregnancy.

It has been over a quarter of a century since the sexual reproductive health of young people came under the spotlight. The upsurge in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections spurred on an era of intense development of services and strategies to ensure people's reproductive health rights were attainable, including the right to choose when to fall pregnant and have a baby. The statistics on teenage pregnancy are more than just numbers, but a represent stark reality for some girls in South African schools. Given that pregnancy in the teenage years is largely unintentional, prevention strategies need to extend beyond addressing risky sexual behavior; gaining deeper insights into teenagers' experiences and the events leading up to pregnancy would serve to better inform pregnancy prevention programs. This study explored the experiences of teenage mothers and pregnant teenagers, with the objective of acquiring a broader understanding of alternative approaches to preventing unintended pregnancy. A qualitative study was conducted in Ekurhuleni's township in the east of Johannesburg, South Africa. Fifteen narrative interviews with girls aged 13–19 years were conducted between July 2015 and July 2016, and were analyzed chronologically through narrative analysis. The findings revealed that participants who had engaged in socio-sexual and romantic relationships had no intention of falling pregnant and were familiar with existing strategies to prevent pregnancy. Social-sexual relationships were presented as an important aspect of their lives and demonstrated their ability to create spaces and opportunities to spend time with their social sexual partners and engage in sexual activity. Focusing on how teenage girls evaluate their sexual activity against the consequences of their actions is critical. However, sexual and reproductive health programs should refrain from representing young people's sexual behavior as a pathological condition, framing it instead as an integral component of creative sexual development. Programs should include relevant practical advice in relation to sexual engagement and be considered an extension of the State's existing Road to Health program.

Reproductive Health and Reproductive Behavior of Modern Youth

Abstract: The article provides theoretical views on reproductive health, especially women’s health. Preserving the reproductive health of young people and optimizing their reproductive behavior by developing principles for preventing unwanted pregnancies and introducing a set of measures aimed at preventing complications of abortions, subsequent pregnancies and childbirth, and preventing repeated abortions. Keywords: reproductive health, pregnancies, reproductive behavior of young people, maternal mortality, abortion.

Sexual- und Verh\xfctungsverhalten von Jugendlichen und jungen Erwachsenen in Deutschland. Aktuelle Ergebnisse der Repr\xe4sentativbefragung \u201eJugendsexualit\xe4t\u201c

ZusammenfassungHintergrundSeit 1980 führt die Bundeszentrale für gesundheitliche Aufklärung (BZgA) in regelmäßigen Abständen die Repräsentativbefragungen „Jugendsexualität“ durch. Dieses kontinuierliche Monitoring generiert Erkenntnisse zur sexuellen und reproduktiven Gesundheit von jungen Menschen in Deutschland, die eine wichtige Basis einer bedarfs- und zielgruppengerechten Entwicklung von Maßnahmen der Sexualaufklärung und Familienplanung darstellen.ZielDas aktuelle Sexual- und Verhütungsverhalten von Jugendlichen und jungen Erwachsenen soll anhand erster deskriptiver Ergebnisse der 9. Trendwelle zusammenfassend dargestellt werden.Material und MethodenAn der Befragung nahmen insgesamt N = 6032 Jugendliche und junge Erwachsene teil. Die Datenerhebung erfolgte in 2019 als kombiniert mündlich-schriftliche Interviews (Computer-assisted Personal Interviewing, CAPI).ErgebnisseEin zentraler Befund der vorliegenden Trendwelle ist, dass der Anteil an Jugendlichen, die beim ersten Geschlechtsverkehr jünger als 17 Jahre sind, seit einigen Jahren rückläufig ist. Zur Kontrazeption setzten Jugendliche am häufigsten das Kondom ein, die Nutzung der Pille ist im Trend deutlich rückläufig.DiskussionDie Daten der aktuellen Trendwelle weisen ein sicheres und verantwortungsbewusstes Verhütungsverhalten von jungen Menschen in Deutschland nach. Trotzdem gilt es, das Engagement im Bereich der sexuellen Gesundheitsförderung aufrechtzuerhalten und zielgruppenspezifische Präventionsmaßnahmen weiter auszubauen. Denn nur so kann die sexuelle und reproduktive Gesundheit der nachfolgenden Generation gewährleistet werden.

Opportunities for strengthening sexual health education in schools: Findings from a student needs assessment in NSW.

Comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) is important for the sexual and reproductive health of young people. To better understand young people's views and experiences of sexual health education in NSW, a student needs assessment survey was conducted in 2017. This paper presents the findings from 1603 NSW students in Years 8-12 following online recruitment. Descriptive analyses explored students' views and experiences in relation to sources of sexual health information, education providers, school-based topics covered and resources drawn on. Findings indicate that school, parents, friends and social media are students' most common sources of information on sexual and reproductive health. Approximately one-third of students reported wanting more information on topics related to relationships, reproductive health, consent and sexual decision-making and sexual harassment, abuse and bullying, and two-thirds of transgender and gender diverse students wanted more information on gender identity. For the topics which students reported receiving the least information about at school, they were most likely to seek this out on social media and websites. Findings provide valuable insight for improving CSE in NSW. The influence of social media, parents and the internet should be taken into consideration when developing resources and programme content. Professional development for educators could contribute to improving the quality of CSE delivered. Accurate and up to date resources must be utilised to support student engagement and effective learning.

An Educational Intervention to Raise Awareness of Contraceptive Options Among Young People.

Background: Young people in the United States know little about contraceptive options available to them, although method use is sensitive to individual preferences, and method switching is common. For young people to gain reproductive autonomy, a first step is to be aware of different contraceptives, including hormonal and nonhormonal methods. We tested whether an educational intervention delivered on community college campuses was effective in increasing contraceptive awareness. Materials and Methods: We developed a low-cost educational intervention featuring youth-friendly visual tools and tested its impact on method awareness and knowledge among 1,051 students of all genders, aged 18-25 years, at five community colleges. We used generalized estimating equations to test changes in awareness of a range of methods, including male and female (internal) condoms, the pill, patch, vaginal ring, shot, intrauterine devices, implant, and emergency contraception. Results: Over 90% of participants were aware of male condoms and the pill at baseline, but fewer had heard of other options (ranging from 31% to 76% for different methods). Across all methods, awareness increased to a mean of 88% among female participants and 82% among male participants postintervention. Awareness of the full range of methods increased from 31% to 55% (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 4.4, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.1-6.2]) among female participants and 11% to 36% (aOR: 10.8, 95% CI: 5.3-21.8) among male participants postintervention. The intervention was similarly effective by sexual orientation, race/ethnicity, nativity, or insurance coverage. Conclusion: This educational intervention significantly improved all students' awareness of a range of contraceptives, supporting one important aspect of reproductive health for young people in community settings.