Knowledge of Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights Among University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study in Southeast Ethiopia

Figures & data

Table 1 Socio-Demographic Characteristics of Study Participants at Madda Walabu University from February to March 2022 (n=434)

Variable	Frequency	Percentage (%)
Sex
Female	120	28
Male	314	72
Age
18–24	380	88
≥25	54	12
Marital status
Single	344	79.3
In a sexual relationship	90	20.7
Residence origin
Urban	308	71
Rural	126	29
Religion
Orthodox	202	47
Muslim	114	26
Protestant	102	24
Other*	16	3
Ethnicity
Oromo	280	64.5
Amhara	118	27.2
Other**	36	8.3
Field of Study
Health Science	124	28.6
Non-health science	310	71.4
Year of Study
Year I	118	27.2
Year II and Up	316	72.8
A monthly stipend from family or relatives in Birr
<1000birr	52	11.98
≥1000 birr	382	88.02
Secondary school attendance
Governmental	344	79.26
Private	90	20.74
Father’s level of education
Illiterate	80	18.4
Primary education	214	49.3
Secondary education	108	24.9
College and higher	32	7.4
Mother’s level of education
Illiterate	112	25.8
Primary education	208	47.9
Secondary education	95	21.9
College and higher	19	4.4
Father’s occupation
Farmer	136	31.3
Merchant	75	17.3
Laborer	72	16.6
Health professional	55	12.7
None-health professional	96	22.1
Mother’s occupation
Housewife	261	60.1
Merchant	56	12.9
Laborer	16	3.7
Health professional	32	7.4
None- health professional	69	15.9

Notes: Other*, Adventist, Waqeffatta. Other**, Wolaita, Sidama, Kambata, Somali, Gurage, Gambella.

Table 2 Reproductive Health Service Utilization and Sexual Experience Among Madda Walabu University Study Participants (n=434) from February to March 2022

Variables	Frequency	Percentage (%)
Did you ever hear about reproductive rights?
Yes	280	64.5
No	154	35.5
From whom did you hear about it?
Parents	15	3.5
Media (Radio, Television, Newspapers…)	76	17.5
Clubs	55	12.7
Peers	84	19.4
Teachers	50	11.4
Did you discuss reproductive and health rights with someone else?
Yes	124	28.6
No	310	71.4
If you discussed it with whom?
Parents	19	4.4
Peers	80	18.5
Teachers	25	5.7
Is there a reproductive health club available on your campus?
Yes	292	67.28
No	142	32.72
Do you participate in reproductive health clubs?
Yes	155	35.7
No	279	64.3
Did you ever have sexual intercourse?
Yes	260	60
No	174	40
Age at First Sexual Intercourse
Below 18,	100	23.07
Over the age of 18	160	36.93
Did you use FP during your first sexual contact (condom)?
Yes	104	23.96
No	330	76.04
With whom did you have your first sex?
With my boyfriend/girlfriend	215	49.5
With someone older than you, at least 10 years.	56	12.9
With colleagues	151	34.8
With commercial sex workers (for males)	12	2.8

Abbreviation: FP, Family Planning.

Table 3 Knowledge of Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights Among Madda Walabu University Study Participants (n=434) from February to March 2022

S. No	Variables	Correctly Answered
		Freq	%
1	Do reproductive rights are the right to life?	340	78.3
2	Do youth have the right to have their use of reproductive health services kept confidential?	216	49.8
3	Does the man get sex whenever he wants, irrespective of his wife’s wish?	312	72
4	Does a married woman have the right to limit the number of her children according to her desire without her husband‘s consent?	226	52.1
5	Does the father have no obligation to share child care?	344	79
6	Do girls have the right to resist genital mutilation against their families’ will?	380	86
7	Do youths have the full right access to all reproductive health services without the consent of their parents?	265	61.1
8	Do girls have the right to autonomous reproductive choices without their partners’ consent?	298	68.7
9	Do you think that all students should be free to enjoy and control their sexual and reproductive life?	345	79.5
10	Do unmarried women have the right to maternity leave with adequate social security benefits?	316	72.8
11	Do unmarried couples have no right to use contraceptives other than condoms?	323	74.4
12	Do women have the same right as men to marry only with their free and full consent?	220	50.7
13	Do reproductive age groups have the right to the highest attainable standard of health?	271	62.4

Figure 1 Knowledge of sexual and reproductive health rights among Madda Walabu University students in Southeast Ethiopia from February to March 2022 (n=434).

Table 4 Bivariate and Multivariate Binary Logistic Regression Analyses of Factors Associated with Knowledge of Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights Among Madda Walabu University Study Participants (n=434) from February to March 2022

Variables	Level of SRHR Knowledge		COR (95% CI)	AOR (95% CI)	P-value
	Good N (%)	Poor N (%)
Residence origin
Urban	201 (46)	107 (26)	1.28 (0.68–0.73)	1.52 (1.02 −1.14)	0.005*
Rural	75 (17)	51 (11)	1.00	1.00
Field of Study
Health Science	106 (24)	18 (4)	9.58 (5.42–9.24)	12.21 (7.27–14.88)	0.001*
Non-health science	118 (28)	192 (44)	1.00	1.00
Year of Study
Year I	72 (17)	46 (11)	1.00	1.00
Year II and up	206 (47)	110 (25)	1.19 (1.24–3.85)	2.25 (2.27–4.67)	0.22
Monthly earnings (in EBR)
<1000	33 (8)	19 (4)	1.00	1.00
≥1000	286 (66)	96 (22)	1.72 (1.01–2.15)	2.01 (1.43–3.48)	0.06
Secondary school attendance
Governmental	130 (30)	214 (49)	1.00	1.00	1.00
Private	65 (15)	25 (6)	4.28 (5.16–8.52)	6.12 (7.35–9.26)	0.003*
Discussed SRHR with someone else.
Yes	105 (24)	19 (4)	8.99 (9.04–11.92)	9.03 (11.21–13.78)	0.006*
No	118 (28)	192 (44)	1.00	1.00
Ever heard of reproductive rights?
Yes	158 (36)	122 (28)	1.23 (1.33–2.01)	2.04 (1.99–3.08)	0.12
No	79 (18)	75 (18)	1.00	1.00
Participated in reproductive health clubs.
Yes	98 (23)	57 (13)	2.94 (2.28–4.89)	3.95 (3.47–5.90)	0.033*
No	103 (24)	176 (41)	1.00	1.00
Availability of the RH club on the campus
Yes	172 (39)	120 (28)	1.75 (1.44–2.95)	1.99 (2.68–4.77)	0.002*
No	64 (15)	78 (18)	1.00	1.00

Note: *Significant at p<0.05 (Adjusted).

Abbreviations: COR, Crude Odds Ratio; AOR, Adjusted Odds Ratio; CI, Confidence Interval; EBR, Ethiopian Birr; RH, Reproductive Health; SRHR, Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights.