Reproductive health knowledge among college students in Kenya

Abstract

BackgroundReproductive health knowledge is vital in the growth and development of young people and this impact greatly on their educational and personal outcome as they proceed to adulthood. There has been an increasing occurrence of sexually transmitted infections in institutions of higher learning. The study sought out the strategies used by university students to prevent unplanned pregnancy and determined their knowledge of contraception methods and sexually transmitted infections in Mount Kenya University, main campus.MethodsStratified sampling was employed. After a signed consent was obtained, a self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Data were explored, analyzed and percentages used to quantify the level of knowledge. Pearson’s chi-square was used to measure associations between categorical variables and independent t-test used to measure the means and relationships of continuous variables.ResultsCondom use was established as the most prevalent strategy in prevention of unplanned pregnancy at 48.5 and 46.4% in prevention of STI and HIV/AIDS. Almost two thirds (58%) of respondents reported that they were conversant with only one method of contraception, 60% had knowledge of more than two types of STIs, and 62.4% indicated that they were conversant with only hospitals as facilities providing reproductive health services.ConclusionYoung people in college require educational initiatives to sensitize them on STI, methods of contraception and positive social behaviors. There is need to improve the accessibility of reproductive health services through strengthening of services provided at campus health clinics.

Sexual and reproductive health knowledge and practices among youth with and without mental illness in Uganda: a comparative study

“…This finding was consistent with the 2016 UDHS findings which showed that almost 99% of assessed youths knew about modern methods of contraceptives and condoms were the most known modern contraceptive [20]. Similar findings were also found among Kenyan youths [32].…”

Sexual and reproductive health knowledge of postgraduate students at the University of Cape Town, in South Africa

“…Respondents' were knowledgeable about contraceptives, especially with regards to condoms (100%) and oral contraceptives (97.6%). The finding is in line with other studies in KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa), Kenya and Tanzania were research participants were knowledgeable about contraceptives [46][47][48]. Respondents were also knowledgeable about the symptoms of STIs.…”

Husband’s support on the use of Intra Uterine Device (IUD) and implant contraceptives among Indonesian couples

“…87-93 Retno Heru Setyorini et.al (Husband's support on the use of intrauterine device (IUD) and…) study did not show the effect of knowledge on the use of an IUD or implant. This is in line with a research conducted in different context which showed that contraceptive knowledge possessed by students does not increase its use (Mbugua and Karonjo 2018). The use of IUDs and Implant contraception is influenced by knowledge, social norms (Dynes, Stephenson, Rubardt, & Bartel, 2012), the role of the counselor (Robby et al, 2019), and service limitations (Babalola, Figueroa, and Krenn 2017).…”