Knowledge of Adolescent Female regarding their Reproductive Health

Abstract

Background Reproductive health (RH) is an increasingly important component of global health, while adolescence generally is a healthy and special period in life cycle of adolescent female as it requires specific and special attention. The study aimed to assess female adolescent knowledge regarding reproductive health. A descriptive study design carried out at technical institute of nursing, Ain Shams University and faculty of nursing Ain Shams University through purposive sample: 190 students were included in the study, and were subjected to the following criteria: adolescent female their age not more than 21 years in first academic year. Data were collected through self- administered structured questionnaire sheet: It composed of two parts: Socio-demographic characteristic and knowledge about RH issues. Results: The present study revealed that nearly two thirds of the sample had fair knowledge and more than one third of them had good knowledge about reproductive health aspects. There were a statistically significant difference between age, religion of studied subject and knowledge about RH, there were highly statistically significant difference between residence, marital status, family size of studied subject and knowledge about RH, there were a highly statistically significant difference between educational level of the mother, Father’s occupation of studied subject and knowledge about RH and also there were statistically significant difference between educational level of the father of studied subject and level of knowledge about RH. The study concluded that nearly two thirds of the sample had fair knowledge and more than one third of them had good knowledge about reproductive health aspects. The study recommended that; develop reproductive health educational programs targeted to adolescents. Further researches are needed to aassess effect of parent-adolescent communication on adolescent sexual and reproductive health matters.Further researches are needed to investigate adolescents' barriers for utilization of reproductive health services.