Level and Predictors of Knowledge of Reproductive Rights Among Haramaya University Students, Eastern Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Globally, two-thirds of pre-mature deaths and one-third of the total disease burden in adults are associated with problems that began in adolescent and youth. Globaland national acting educational and health policies, strategies, and programs designedto promote, implement, and improve adolescent and youth sexual and reproductivehealth services utilization should be responsive, consider the knowledge of reproductiverights and risk factors. This study assessed the level and predictors of knowledge ofreproductive rights among Haramaya University students in Ethiopia.Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among randomlyselected Haramaya University students from March 1 to 24, 2018. A self-administeredpre-tested structured questionnaire was used to collect data fromparticipants. Data wereentered using EpiData version 3.1 and analyzed using SPSS version 24. Bivariable andmultivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify factors associatedwith knowledge of reproductive rights. Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with 95% CI was usedto report association and significance was declared at P-value < 0.05.Results: Of 822 total students invited to the study, 812 (98.8%) respondentsparticipated in the study. A total of 424 students (52.2%, 95% CI: 48.8, 55.4%) hadan above-average level of knowledge on reproductive rights. Participants who were inthe fourth and above year of the study [AOR = 2.37 (1.58, 3.54)], whose father’s hadhigher education [AOR = 1.89 (1.27, 2.80)], who came from rich families [AOR = 1.54(1.07, 2.21)], in the health faculty [AOR = 3.37 (2.17, 5.23)], utilized reproductive healthservices [AOR = 2.81 (2.21, 4.98)] and participated in reproductive health club [AOR =1.77 (1.27, 2.47)] were significantly associated with knowledge of reproductive rights.Conclusion: Around half of the participants knew reproductive rights. In thisstudy, lack of awareness (information) on reproductive health issues and absence ofreproductive health services utilization were strong independent predictors of knowledgeof reproductive rights.