Predictors of sexual and reproductive health self-care based on demographic factors in adolescent girls

Abstract

Objectives: Global access to sexual and reproductive health is an essential human right, especially to adolescent girls. For improvement sexual and reproductive self-care needs to determine the related factors on utilization and acceptance by adolescents. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the SRH self-care and its predictors among adolescent girls in Neyshabur city at Northeast of Iran.

Methods: The present study was a cross-sectional correlational study performed on 265 girl students from 15 girls' high schools in Neyshabour, in Razavi Khorasan province, Northeastern Iran. The sampling method was multistage probability sampling. Data were collected using demographic information and female adolescents' sexual reproductive self-care scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive, frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficient, and multiple linear regression model. The significant level was p<0.05 using SPSS₁₆.

Results: The results of the present study showed that the mean score of the sexual reproductive health self-care was 61.23 of 100 ± 10.5, it had a significantly relationship with fathers education high school [B=-7.241 CI: (-11.088 to -3.393)], diploma [B=-7.221 CI: -10.707 to -3.735] than academic. The rank of children birth in the family first [B=6.012 CI: (0.931-11.092)] second [B=4.436 CI: (1.437-8.309)] than third and above. Economic status of household Excellent [B=3.159 CI: (2.193-8.511)], Favorable [B=5.866 CI: (1.355-10.378)], relatively favorable [B=2.705 CI: (1.802-7.213)] than poor level economic.

Conclusions: sexual and reproductive health is associated to father's education, the rank of children birth in the family, and economic status. So these variables will help to strategies and progress educational programs.

Keywords: adolescent girls; demographic factors; self-care; sexual and reproductive health.