Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2013 Feb 13:13:12.
doi: 10.1186/1472-698X-13-12.

Knowledge of reproductive and sexual rights among University students in Ethiopia: institution-based cross-sectional

Yohannes Mehretie Adinew  1 , Abebaw Gebeyehu Worku, Zelalem Birhanu Mengesha
Affiliations

Knowledge of reproductive and sexual rights among University students in Ethiopia: institution-based cross-sectional

Yohannes Mehretie Adinew et al. BMC Int Health Hum Rights. .

Abstract

Background: People have the right to make choices regarding their own sexuality, as far as they respect the rights of others. The knowledge of those rights is critical to youth's ability to protect themselves from unwanted reproductive outcomes. Reproductive health targeted Millennium Development Goals will not be achieved without improving access to reproductive health. This study was aimed to assess knowledge of reproductive and sexual rights as well as associated factors among Wolaita Sodo University students.

Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional survey was conducted among 642 regular undergraduate Wolaita Sodo University students selected by simple random sampling. A pretested and structured self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Data were entered using EPI info version 3.5.3 statistical software and analyzed using SPSS version 20 statistical package. Descriptive statistics was used to describe the study population in relation to relevant variables. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression was also carried out to see the effect of each independent variable on the dependent variable.

Results: More than half (54.5%) of the respondents were found to be knowledgeable about reproductive and sexual rights. Attending elementary and high school in private schools [AOR: 2.08, 95% CI: 1.08, 3.99], coming from urban areas [AOR: 1.46, 95% CI: 1.00, 2.12], being student of faculty of health sciences [AOR: 2.98, 95% CI: 1.22, 7.30], participation in reproductive health clubs [AOR: 3.11, 95% CI: 2.08, 4.65], utilization of reproductive health services [AOR: 2.34, 95% CI: 1.49, 3.69] and discussing sexual issues with someone else [AOR: 2.31, 95% CI: 1.48, 3.62], were positively associated with knowledge of reproductive and sexual rights.

Conclusion: The level of knowledge of students about reproductive and sexual rights was found to be low. The Ministry of Education has to incorporate reproductive and sexual rights in the curricula of high schools and institutions of higher learning.

Keywords: Reproductive Health, Reproductive and Sexual Rights, Youths, Ethiopia.

PubMed Disclaimer

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

See all "Cited by" articles

References

    1. Griffin S. Literature review on Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights: Universal Access to Services, focussing on East and Southern Africa and South Asia. Panos, London: Department for International Development; 2006.
    1. Asghar K. Socio-Economic and Cultural Determinants of Attitude Towards Reproductive Health Rights in Punjab. Pakistan: University of Agriculture; 2010.
    1. Moise F. Sexual and reproductive rights of young people: Haiti experience – findings of a project implemented by the Foundation for Reproductive Health and Family Education. Sexual Health Exchange. 1999;4(5)
    1. UNPFA. Annual Report. New York: UNPFA; 2005.
    1. Population Action International. The Key to Achieving the Millennium Development Goals: Universal Access to Family Planning and Reproductive Health. Washington: Population Action International; 2010.

Publication types