Examination of Nursing Students’ Views and Behaviors on Sexual Health/ Reproductive Health

Abstract

Objectives: This study is planned to determine the views and behaviors of nursing students about sexual health / reproductive health. Materials and Methods: The universe of the research which is planned as descriptive was created by 211 students who studying in Department of Nursing of Adıyaman University School of Health. In this study, between the dates of April 1 and May 30 2011, it has tried to the whole universe without sample choice, however at the time of the survey was conducting the students who did not want to fill the questionnaire or who were absent were excluded from the study and so, 133 students were enrolled. The questionnaire was consisted of 39 questions that including 22 questions about demographic data and 17 questions to determine the level of knowledge and behaviors about sexual health / reproductive health. The obtained data encoded in SPSS 17.0 and in analysis number, percentage and chi-square test were used. Results: 33.8% of students were male, 99.2% were single, 38.3% were second grader and the average age of participants were 21,08 ± 2,14. 42.2% of the students stated that reproductive health education should start in primary school, 8.9% stated that they talk with their fathers and 6.8% stated they talk with their mothers about sexual health / reproductive health. When their resource of knowledge about sexuality was queried, 36.8% stated that were their friends. 15% of students stated that they had no sexual experience, 60% of students with sexual experience stated they were using contraceptive method during sexual experience. 75.9% of students stated that they are against sex without marriage. The difference between gender, age groups and living sexual experience situations was statistically significant (p=0.001, p=0.011). Conclusions: It was found that most of students were not get informed by their mothers and fathers, they were obtaining information from their friends and print media, social norms and values and traditional approaches have influence on students‟ knowledge and behaviors about sexual health / reproductive health.