Perspectives of adolescents regarding the sexual and reproductive health self-care: a theory-based qualitative research

Abstract

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:sec id="j_ijamh-2020-0003_abs_001_w2aab3b7b1b1b6b1aab1c13b2Aa"><jats:title>Objectives</jats:title><jats:p>It is widely accepted that sexual and reproductive health in adolescents are among the health priorities in the world that affects health aspects and the formation of beliefs and socioeconomic development in the community. However, achieving goals related to sexual and reproductive health is not possible without awareness and participation of the adolescents. On the other hand, proper knowledge about such issues can prevent many problems in this regard.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec id="j_ijamh-2020-0003_abs_002_w2aab3b7b1b1b6b1aab1c13b3Aa"><jats:title>Methods</jats:title><jats:p>This qualitative study was carried out for one month in schools of Alborz University of Medical Sciences using content analysis. Data were collected from semi-structured, individual and in-depth interviews with female students. In addition, data analysis was performed using guided qualitative content analysis (theory-based).</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec id="j_ijamh-2020-0003_abs_003_w2aab3b7b1b1b6b1aab1c13b4Aa"><jats:title>Results</jats:title><jats:p>Analysis of the data led to the extraction of 11 primary codes classified in six categories of protection motivation constructs (perceived sensitivity, perceived severity, response efficiency, response cost, self-efficacy, and internal rewards) and two additional categories (communications and social contexts).</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec id="j_ijamh-2020-0003_abs_004_w2aab3b7b1b1b6b1aab1c13b5Aa"><jats:title>Conclusion</jats:title><jats:p>All interviewees found themselves exposed to sexually transmitted diseases and emphasized sexual self-care even though the majority of these individuals had inadequate self-efficacy.</jats:p></jats:sec>

Perceived susceptibility, barriers, and cues to action as determinant factors of reproductive health behavior

“…Achieving reproductive health goals is not possible without the awareness and participation of adolescents. On the other hand, adolescents' knowledge and perceptions of these problems can be factors that influence adolescent behavior [13]. This individual perception will encourage a person to behave in a healthy manner [14], which includes the perception of perceived vulnerability, perception of the seriousness of reproductive health problems, perceptions of the benefits obtained, perceptions of perceived barriers, support for action, and self-confidence from teenagers.…”