Development of a Scale to Measure Reproductive Health Promoting Behavior of Undergraduates

Abstract

<Abstract> Objectives: This study was to develop a reliable and valid instrument measuring the reproductive health promoting behavior of undergraduates. Methods: The initial questionnaires were made of 106 items from four domains through literature review. All questionnaire items were revised by an expert group and a pilot test. Data were collected using the revised initial questionnaire of men's 58 items and female's 64 items from 634 male and 685 female undergraduate students. The collected questionnaires were analyzed by factor analysis using varimax rotation to evaluate the construct validity. Results: According to the gender, two measurement were invented and analysed separately. Four common factors consisting of 'safe sex', 'sexual responsibility', 'genital health management' and 'STD prevention' were discovered in both groups. The 'genital hygiene' factor was added as a female factor. Male students' scale was made up 4 factors 16 items and female students' scale was made up 5 factors 18 items. Cronbach's alpha for male scale was estimated to be .892 and female scale to be .882. Conclusions: This scale will make it possible to measure the level of reproductive health among Korean university students. This scale may be useful for developing effective methods of education as well as policy programs for improving the reproductive health of Korean university students.

Effects of a Lifestyle Intervention on Health-Promoting Behavior, Psychological Distress and Reproductive Health of Overweight and Obese Female College Students

“…The Cronbach’s alpha was 0.79 in the current study. (iii) The reproductive health behavior scale contains 18 items, including safe sex, sexual responsibility, genital health management, sexually transmitted disease prevention, and genital hygiene [ 27 ]. Reproductive health knowledge and attitude scales have established validity and reliability in Korean university students [ 13 ].…”

A structural equation modeling of reproductive health promoting behaviors among female adolescents in the Philippines

“…This instrument is composed of eight items related to safe sex, AIDS/STD prevention, and condom use along a five‐point Likert scale (1 = very untrue, 5 = very true). Integrated reproductive health related items were added as per a literature review (Jo et al, 2014) and experts' opinions. After the content validation and pilot test, six items related to safe sex, condom and contraceptive use, AIDS/STD prevention, sexual responsibility, menstrual symptoms management, and genital hygiene were selected.…”

“…Reproductive health promoting behaviors were measured using the Reproductive Health Promoting Behavior Scale (Jo et al, 2014). This instrument consists of 18 items with five sub-scales: safe sexual intercourse, sexual responsibility, genital health management, STD prevention, and genital hygiene.…”

“…The AIDS Prevention Information, Motivation, Behavioral Skills, and Behavior scale measures only AIDS prevention. Therefore, integrated reproductive health related items were added, based on a literature review (Jo et al, 2014) and experts' opinions. After the processes of content validation and pilot testing, 15 items were selected, consisting of five questions on condom and contraceptive use, AIDS/STD prevention, sexual responsibility, menstrual symptoms management, and genital hygiene.…”

“…Reproductive health promoting behaviors include motherhood health and safety promotion, including pre‐ and post‐natal care, safe delivery, and infant and mother's health; gynecological care, including prevention of unsafe abortions; preventing and treating STDs; and preventing sexual violence (World Health Organization, 2006). Jo et al (2014) identified reproductive health promoting behaviors as safe sexual behavior, genital management, fertility‐related health management, and psychosocial reproductive health, including sexual responsibility.…”