Investigating Knowledge and Attitude of Karaj Students in the Field of Reproductive Health and Its Related Factors in 2021

Reproductive health is the complete physical, mental, emotional, and social health associated with the reproductive system. According to the statement of the 1994 Cairo International Conference on Population and Development, young people have the right to know and have access to reproductive health services, so that they can make informed decisions about their fertility issues, and governments are required to provide these services. This study aimed to investigate the knowledge and attitude of Karaj students in the field of reproductive health in 2021.

This research was a cross-sectional descriptive study that was conducted by a researcher-made questionnaire on 401 students of different fields and levels of study in Karaj.

Knowledge in 36.8% of the participants was at a good level (score more than 75%), in 60.9% of them was moderate (score 25-75%) and in 2% was poor (score less than 25%). In terms of attitudes toward premarital sex, 23.2% agreed with boys having sex before marriage, 26.4% had no opinion, and 54.1% disagreed. Moreover, 19.5% agreed with girls having sex before marriage, 21.9% had no opinion, and 54.1% disagreed.

According to the findings, policy-making is a necessity in order to develop formal reproductive and sexual health education programs for young people.