REPRODUCTION-RELATED AWARENESS AMONG NEVER-MARRIED STUDENTS OF HUMANITIES COURSES

Sundaram Kartikeyan and Srabani Bhattacharya*

ABSTRACT

This cross-sectional comparative descriptive study was conducted among never-married students (aged 18 years and above, of either gender) pursuing undergraduate studies in Humanities in a metropolitan city in Western India to determine their reproduction-related awareness. After permissions, the study was explained and written informed consent was obtained from 93 students (56 females, 60.21%, and 37 males, 39.79%). A direct face-to-face interview was conducted at a time convenient to the participants, using a semi-structured pre-validated proforma and their responses were noted. The gender differences in age distribution, religion-wise distribution, medium of instruction at school, paternal and maternal occupation were not significant. A significantly higher number of female students were urban-born (Z=2.333; p=0.198), had studied in urban-based schools at primary (Z=2.870; p=0.004), secondary (Z=2.624; p=0.008), and higher secondary levels (Z=3.434; p=0.006) had higher levels of paternal (Z=2.556; p=0.010) and maternal (Z=1.991; p=0.046) education. The self-reported age of awareness of puberty changes was significantly (Z=3.777; p=0.0001) earlier in female students. Female students obtained significantly higher mean scores on questions related to contraceptive for nulliparious couple (Z=2.328; p=0.019), family planning method for couple who has completed family (Z=2.064; p=0.038) and fertile period during menstrual cycle (Z=2.644; p=0.008). The media, which was a source of reproduction-related information for many participants, can be utilized for conducting health awareness campaigns on pubertal changes, reproduction and contraception.

Keywords: Awareness, Contraceptives, Family Planning, Puberty, Reproduction, Students.