Awareness of Female hNursing Students of the Risk Factor Regarding Early Marriage

Abstract

Background: Early marriage has long-lasting effects on a person's social, emotional, and physical health. Nurses can raise female awareness of the risks of early pregnancy and marriage. Objective: The study aimed to assess awareness of female nursing students of the risk factors regarding early marriage. Subjects and methods: Design: A descriptive research design was applied in this study. Sample: A purposive sample included 121 female nursing students. Setting: Technical Health Nursing Institute, Fayoum Branch, which affiliated to Beni-Suef Governorate. Tools: Interview questionnaire consisted of four parts: sociodemographic characteristics about the students and parents, female student's knowledge, their reported practices about early marriage, and assessing their own risk factors for problems arising from early marriage. Results:The study finding indicated that 74.4% of female nursing students were 18 years when they married. 58.7% of female nursing students had unsatisfactory level of total knowledge about early marriage and reproductive health. 65.3% of them had inadequate reported practices regarding early marriage. 52.1% of them had high level of risk factors for problems arising from early marriage. Conclusion: More than half of female nursing students had unsatisfactory level of total knowledge about early marriage, inadequate practices regarding early marriage and high level of risk factors for problems arising from early marriage. There was highly statistically significant relation between female nursing students' knowledge, reported practice about early marriage and their sociodemographic characteristics. Recommendation: Applying health education programs among students in different educational settings focusing on early marriage health consequences.