Reproductive Health Literacy and Associated Factors among High School Adolescents in Boke District, Oromia Region, Eastern Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Health literacy has recently attracted global interest in public health. Sexual and reproductive health literacy, in particular, affects people's ability to make sound sexual and reproductive health decisions and is shown as a strong predictor of adolescent sexual and reproductive health outcomes. This study aimed to determine the reproductive health literacy status and associated factors among high school adolescents in Boke District, Oromia Region, Eastern Ethiopia. Methods: Institutional-based Cross-sectional study was conducted on 403 adolescents aged 15 to 19 years from January 1-5, 2021. A systematic random sampling technique was used to recruit the study participants. Pre-tested, structured, self-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data. Data were entered using Epi data version 3.1 and analyzed by SPSS version 20. Both bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were executed. The model fitness and Multicollinearity were checked using the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness of fitness test and variance inflation factor, respectively. The significant statistical association was determined at a P-value <0.05 using an adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with 95% CI. Results: The study revealed that the overall prevalence of adequate reproductive health literacy among adolescents was 18.4% with a 95% CI (14.8%-22.5%). Female sex was about 52% times (AOR = 0.48, 95% CI: 0.26, 0.88) less likely to have adequate reproductive health literacy status. School adolescents never attending reproductive health topics in class were about 56% times (AOR = 0.44, 95% CI: 0.23, 0.84) less likely to have adequate reproductive health literacy status. School adolescents who never used reproductive health services ever were also about 60% times (AOR = 0.40, 95% CI: 0.23, 0.70) less likely to have adequate reproductive health literacy status. Conclusion: The finding of this study showed a large proportion of school adolescents have limited reproductive health literacy, suggesting school adolescents are at higher risk of reproductive health literacy-related problems. Thus, efforts should be made to improve adolescent reproductive health literacy with due attention to school sexual and reproductive health education.