Risk factors that influence sexual and reproductive health in Portuguese university students

Santos, Maria José de Oliveira; Ferreira, Elisabete; Duarte, Jaqueline Aparecida; Ferreira, Manuela

doi:10.1111/inr.12387

Cited by 13 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 17 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Similar results were found by Kgosiemang and Blitz [ 22 ] for the emergency contraceptive pill ( p < 0.001). However, in our study, the significant effect was not maintained in the subsequent multivariate analysis, although the level of knowledge is an important element for the development of positive attitudes toward the use of contraceptive methods, coinciding with two previous researches [ 6 , 23 ]. The weak correlation between the level of knowledge and the score on the attitude scale indicates the existence of other variables involved in the development of attitudes toward contraception that should be investigated qualitatively.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

“…On the other hand, although men were more exposed to risks, most planning services are oriented toward women (family planning and gynecological care). It would therefore be desirable to make sexual and reproductive health services more attractive by offering flexible schedules and adapting information to the gender of the student [ 6 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The university is a context in which young people learn to manage their intimate relationships and sexuality [ 6 ], but formal training in sexuality is not a reality, and these young people have few decision-making tools for certain scenarios [ 7 ]. Although WHO promotes educational programs as a preventive measure for individuals regardless of whether they are sexually inactive or active [ 2 ], educational interventions on Sex&CM in young populations are scarce, and the studies carried out show a predominantly low level of knowledge [ 6 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ]. The increase in the level of knowledge about Sex&CM in adolescents has been widely used as the only variable to confirm the effectiveness of educational programs for the prevention of unwanted pregnancies [ 13 ] and other programs aimed at avoiding other consequences—such as STIs—of risk behaviors in young people [ 6 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Knowledge is the basis for directing attitudes, and both knowledge and attitudes are essential for reducing risky sexual behavior [ 6 ]. Educational programs must include the variables of knowledge, skills, and attitudes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To protect young people from the risks associated with sexual and reproductive health, it is therefore important to determine their level of knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and needs [ 3 ]. Previous research to evaluate the level of knowledge and attitudes has measured both variables without using validated scales that allow a valid and reliable measurement [ 6 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 17 , 18 ]. It is thus hypothesized that the level of knowledge about Sex&CM determines young people’s attitudes toward Sex&CM.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 4 more Smart Citations

Young Nursing Student’s Knowledge and Attitudes about Contraceptive Methods

Sanz-Martos

Medina

Álvarez-García

et al. 2020

IJERPH

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Purpose: Adolescence is considered a period in which individuals are particularly at risk of negative consequences related to sexual health. Increased knowledge levels have traditionally been used as an indicator of the effectiveness of educational programs, but attitudes are not addressed and are a key element for the success of such programs. The aim of this study is to determine the level of knowledge and attitudes toward the use of contraceptive methods among nursing students. A multicenter cross-sectional study was carried out. In total, 2914 university students (aged 18–25 years) enrolled in the study. Participants completed two validated scales to measure knowledge level and attitudes toward contraceptive use. Nursing degree students who received training about contraceptives obtained a success rate of over 70%, compared to 15.3% among students who had not received such training (p < 0.001). The mean attitude score was 43.45 points (10–50), but there were no significant differences in terms of student training (p = 0.435), although they were significantly higher among students who used contraceptives at first or last sexual intercourse (p < 0.001). There was a significant weak correlation between the level of knowledge and attitudes toward the use of contraceptives. An adequate level of knowledge about sexuality and contraceptive methods does not correspond to positive attitudes toward their use, although having an excellent attitude toward contraceptive use is related to their use during youth and adolescence.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Young Nursing Student’s Knowledge and Attitudes about Contraceptive Methods

Sanz-Martos

Medina

Álvarez-García

et al. 2020

IJERPH

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Prevent2Protect Project: Regulatory Focus Differences in Sexual Health Knowledge and Practices

et al. 2023

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The way people perceive risks and make decisions about their health is regulated by two motivational systems—prevention of harm or promotion of pleasure. People more focused on prevention strive to avoid negative outcomes and enact more health-protective behaviors. In contrast, people more focused on promotion strive to attain positive outcomes and take more risks with their health. Building upon recent evidence extending this framework to sexual behaviors and health, we conducted a pre-registered online survey (OSF) with Portuguese and Spanish adults (N = 742; Mage = 31.42, SD = 9.16) to examine whether self-reported STI knowledge and sexual health practices differ based on predominant regulatory focus. This study was part of the Prevent2Protect project (OSF). Results showed that prevention-focused participants had heard about more STIs and retrieved more of their knowledge from scientific sources but had been tested for fewer STIs in the past. In contrast, promotion-focused participants indicated they had specific knowledge about more STIs, retrieved more of their knowledge from medical and peer sources, and had been tested for more STIs in the past. They also reported more frequent STI testing, using free testing facilities or asking their family practice doctor to get tested, more routine sexual health check-ups, and more use of other contraceptive methods, such as birth control pills. These results remained unchanged after controlling for demographic differences. Overall, our findings showed that different motives in sexuality shape sexual health knowledge and sexual health practices.

show abstract

Prevalence of Intoxicating Substance Use Before or During Sex Among Young Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

et al. 2023

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Drug use before or during sex is a high-risk sexual behavior associated with adverse health risks and outcomes, such as increasing the likelihood of overdoses and of acquiring sexually-transmitted diseases. This systematic review and meta-analysis of three scientific databases examined the prevalence of the use of intoxicating substances, those tending to excite or stupefy the user on a psychoactive level, before or during sex, among young adults (18–29 years old). A total of 55 unique empirical studies met the inclusion criteria (48,145 individuals; 39% males), were assessed for risk of bias using the tools of Hoy et al. (2012), and were analyzed via a generalized linear mixed-effects model. The results produced a global mean prevalence of this sexual risk behavior of 36.98% (95% CI: 28.28%, 46.63%). Nonetheless, significant differences were identified between different intoxicating substances, with the use of alcohol (35.10%; 95% CI: 27.68%, 43.31%), marijuana (27.80%; 95% CI: 18.24%, 39.92%), and ecstasy (20.90%; 95% CI: 14.34%, 29.45%) significantly more prevalent than that of cocaine (4.32%; 95% CI: 3.64%, 5.11%), heroin (.67%; 95% CI: .09%, 4.65%), methamphetamine (7.10%; 95% CI: 4.57%, 10.88%), and GHB (6.55%; 95% CI: 4.21%, 10.05%). Moderator analyses showed that the prevalence of alcohol use before or during sex differed according to geographical sample origin, and increased as the proportion of ethnic whites in samples increased. The remaining demographic (e.g., gender, age, reference population), sexual (e.g., sexual orientation, sexual activity), health (e.g., drug consumption, STI/STD status), methodological (e.g., sampling technique), and measurement (e.g., timeframe) variables that were examined did not moderate prevalence estimates. Implications for sexual development interventions were discussed.

show abstract

Risk factors that influence sexual and reproductive health in Portuguese university students

Abstract: The findings of this study should be further incorporated into health care with nurses' leadership, adapting healthcare services to the specific needs of this population and promoting educational programmes.

Cited by 13 publications

References 17 publications

Young Nursing Student’s Knowledge and Attitudes about Contraceptive Methods

Young Nursing Student’s Knowledge and Attitudes about Contraceptive Methods

Prevent2Protect Project: Regulatory Focus Differences in Sexual Health Knowledge and Practices

Prevalence of Intoxicating Substance Use Before or During Sex Among Young Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About