Sexual and reproductive health knowledge, sexual attitudes, and sexual behaviour of university students: Findings of a Beijing-Based Survey in 2010-2011

Abstract

Background Although several studies have attempted investigating sex-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices among young people in China, deeper insights were still needed to further understand how this population could be supported to make healthy and safe sexual choices. Against this background, this study used a large set of secondary data to examine associations among sexual and reproductive health (SRH) knowledge, sexual attitudes, and sexual behaviour. Methods A cross-sectional study was employed to explore the associations among SRH knowledge, sexual attitudes, and sexual behaviour with a publicly available survey data among the 1196 university students from freshmen to Ph.D. candidates. Descriptive analysis was used to describe the sociodemographic characteristics of the university students by gender. Associations of sociodemographic factors with sources and categories of SRH knowledge, categories of contraceptive knowledge, sexual attitudes, and sexual behavior were explored with Poisson regressions and logistic regressions, respectively. The mediating effects of sociodemographic factors on the associations between SRH knowledge and sexual behavior, observed sexual attitudes on the associations of SRH knowledge with sexual behavior, and latent sexual attitudes on the relationship between SRH knowledge and sexual behavior were analyzed in order. Results Descriptive analysis showed that the sample was dominated by age group (18 to 24 years), undergraduates, females, limited contraceptive knowledge, unfavorable sexual attitudes, and insufficient knowledge sources. Regression analyses showed that sociodemographic factors had significant associations with SRH knowledge, sexual attitudes, and sexual behavior. Subsequently, the mediating effects of sociodemographic factors on the associations of SRH knowledge and sexual attitudes with sexual behavior were confirmed. Controlling for sociodemographic factors, the effects of sexual attitudes on the associations between SRH knowledge and sexual behaviour could be verified. Structural equation modeling indicated that the linear sequence of sources and categories of SRH knowledge → sexual attitudes → sexual behaviour model and the triangle mediating effects of sexual behaviour → sexual attitudes → SRH knowledge model existed. Conclusions Sociodemographic factors and observed sexual attitudes mediated the associations between SRH knowledge and sexual behaviour. The sequence relationship: sources and categories of SRH knowledge → sexual attitudes → sexual behavior and the mediating relationship: sexual behavior → sexual attitude → sources and categories of SRH knowledge & sexual behavior → sources and categories of SRH knowledge and sexual behavior → sexual attitude → categories of contraceptive knowledge & sexual behavior → categories of contraceptive knowledge were confirmed in the sample. This study also identified an urgent need for the university students to access to SRH comprehensive knowledge.

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

“…The general level of knowledge was low among young people regardless of gender as in several other studies (Brunelli et al, 2022;Ivanova et al, 2018). Similar to some studies (Guan et al, 2021;Vongxay et al, 2019) we found that most young people (54.4%) were unfamiliar with reproductive health, abortion and sexual and reproductive rights, but this proportion is slightly higher than that reported by Ayalew et al (2019) in Ethiopia, where the study population was exclusively students. Very few young people had good knowledge of contraceptive method (18.4%) and good knowledge of STIs/ HIV/ AIDS (15.4%) and their transmission routes, as found by other authors (Tanabe et al, 2015;Okanlawon et al, 2010;Tanabe et al, 2017).…”

Factors affecting the safe sexual behaviors of Korean young adults by gender: a structural equation model

“…A study conducted in China reported that sexual attitudes had a mediating effect on knowledge of risky sex and sexual behaviors among university students [33]. Prior studies reported that individuals with negative sexual attitudes were less likely to use condoms during sex than those with positive sexual attitudes [7] and having a positive attitude toward implementing safe sexual behaviors was associated with actual safe sexual behaviors in women with economic decision-making autonomy [34].…”

Examining the Association of Sexual Health Knowledge and Sexual Attitude of Filipino College Students

“…Results indicated that one's reproductive health knowledge does not have any correlation with personal sexual attitude. According to Uluc et al (2019), as cited by the results of Guan (2021), there are no meaningful relationships between knowledge, behavior, and attitude. Undergraduates tended to have more sources and categories of sexual reproductive knowledge, less knowledge about the safety period and using condoms, but a more positive attitude toward unmarried sex.…”