Knoweldge of adolescent students about reproductive health, and their attitude towards women' empowerment and gender roles in Assiut

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to assess the knowledge of adolescent students in Assiut about reproductive health and explore the adolescent students attitude towards women'empowerment and gender roles. The study was carried out in students' hostels [male and female] of Assiut University as well as the Technical Nursing Institute hostel of Assiut University and Technical Health Institute of Ministry of Health, and Population [MOHP]. A cross-sectional study design to implement this study a convenience sample of 800 students was recruited from the study settings. The inclusion criteria were being a registered student in any of the faculties of Assiut University in the chosen faculties which selected on random basis, also the Technical Nursing Institute of Assiut University and Technical Health institute of Ministry of Health, and Population [MOHP] either male or female. Data were collection from beginning of Jan. to March 2007in academic years 2006/2007.The researchers designed a self-administered questionnaire for data collected. It consisted of five main parts. The first part was socio-demographic data, the second part was for testing knowledge of reproductive health, The third part was adopted from the Adolescents' Attitude Towards Women's Empowerment [ATWE] Index [Kann, 2001]. The fourth part included statements testing adolescent's attitude towards certain reproductive health issues, The fifth part was adopted from the Adolescents' Attitude Towards Gender Roles [ATGR] index [Kann, 200 l].results of the present study shows that adolescents'age ranged between 17 to2 1 years. Slightly more than half of the sample was female students [52.3%]. The highest percentages of fathers had secondary and university education, 28.8% and 34.6%, respectively. Meanwhile, about one-third of the mothers were illiterate [32.6%]. More than half of the adolescents were living in urban areas [54.6%], and the majority had good family relations. Only about one-fourth of the adolescents [26.1%] had some information about reproductive health. The majority had satisfactory knowledge about appropriate pregnancy spacing [84.9%]. Also the result illustrated that there is statistical significant difference between adolescents knowledge and there attitude in relation to satisfaction and unsatisfaction [r=0.34 p<0.001]. It is concluded that adolescents in the study settings lack proper knowledge about adolescents'reproductive health. Also attitude towards reproductive health issues, women empowerment, and gender roles in the family. The study recommends to plan and implement educational programs for this age group regarding reproductive health women empowerment, and gender roles in the family. Also the role of the school is important, as evidenced by the study findings, health education should be integrated into secondary school programs as well as University education