KNOWLEDGE OF REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS AND ITS ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG HARAMAYA UNIVERSITY STUDENTS, OROMIA REGION, EASTERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Background: Globally there are 15.9 million infants born to adolescent mothers each year and 15% of maternal mortality accounts among young women. In Ethiopia, annually, from more than 27,000 new cases of HIV/AIDS, 42% occurred among youths and the sexual violence occurred among 10% of youth age between 15-19 years and also 45% of the total births in the country occur among young women, 60% of adolescent pregnancies are unwanted or unintended. In Ethiopian higher institution, only less than half (46.66%) of students were know about what reproductive health means. Objectives: To assess the level of knowledge of reproductive rights and its associated factors among Haramaya University students, Oromia Region, Eastern Ethiopia. Methods: An institution-based, cross-sectional study was employed. A structured self-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data from 822 regular students of Haramaya University, who were randomly selected and fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Data were entered to EpiData-3.3.1 and analyzed by SPSS-22. Binary logistic regression and multiple logistic regression analysis were used to compute Crude Odds Ratio and Adjusted Odds Ratio with 95% confidence interval to test the associations between dependent and independent variables and to identify factors independently associated with knowledge of reproductive rights. P-value of < 0.05 was considered as the criterion for statistical significance. The fitness of the model was tested by Hosmer- Lemeshow goodness of fit test. Results: More than half (52.5%) of the respondents were found to be knowledgeable. Fourth and above year of study [AOR= 2.37 (1.58, 3.54)], more than secondary paternal educational status [AOR=1.89 (1.27, 2.80)], rich family wealth index [AOR=1.54(1.07, 2.21)], health faculty [AOR= 3.37(2.17, 5.23)], ever used reproductive health services [AOR=2.81(2.21, 4.98)], ever participated in reproductive health clubs [AOR=1.77(1.27, 2.47)] were factors associated with knowledge of Reproductive Rights. Conclusions: The level of knowledge of reproductive rights among Haramaya University students were 52.5%. Being from health faculty, ever used Reproductive health services, and ever participated in Reproductive Health clubs were associated with knowledge of reproductive rights. Hence, The HU should collaborate with Ministry of Education in providing reproductive and sexual rights-related courses for non-health discipline students of higher institutions and The ministry of health should collaborate with Universities and NGOs to encourage the students to actively participate in RH clubs and consolidating the clubs in finance and skilled man power and providing quality RH services for all discipline students.