Effıcıency of Sexual and Reproductıve Health Educatıon

Overview

The youth period is a period when information and education are important. Reproductive and sexual health problems have an important place in aging health problems in youth (Gölbaşlı 2003). All over the world, STIs are most common in the 20-24 age group, followed by the 15-19 and 25-29 age groups. STIs are the most common disease in many countries, especially among young people between the ages of 15-29 (Topbaş et al. 2003). STIs, which are one of the factors that negatively affect public health; are infections transmitted from person to person through sexual contact. According to WHO estimates, approximately 350 million people suffer from curable STIs each year, and the incidence and prevalence of STIs among young people in developed and developing countries are increasing. Although young adults are generally at risk, STIs are most common in people aged 15-49. They have a very important place in terms of human health because they are frequently seen, difficult to diagnose, and cause serious complications when not treated. Incomplete and incorrect information among people who start sexual intercourse at an early age causes difficulties in the prevention of these diseases (Özalp et al. 2012). Having sexual intercourse at an early age, being polygamous, having special sexual preferences, being with or having sex with those who have paid for sexual intercourse, and not using condoms are among the risk factors for STIs (Siyez 2009). We can say that the age period in which STIs are common is parallel to sexual activity. In addition to various socio-demographic factors, it is likely that the most provoking issue in this period is the lack of knowledge of young people (Karaköse and Aydın 2011). In the STD guide published by the CDC, it is recommended to evaluate the people who constitute the risk group in the prevention of these diseases and to provide education and counseling (CDC, 2020). In this context, training to increase the level of knowledge and awareness of young people, who are one of the high-risk groups in society in terms of STD, is important in terms of reducing risky sexual behaviors, early diagnosis, and treatment. Based on all these reasons; It is aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of sexual and reproductive health education given to university students.

During the International Conference on Population and Development held in Cairo in 1994, SRH was covered extensively for the first time and the scope of reproductive and sexual health was expanded (ICPD, 1994). If the concepts that make up the SRH of adolescents and young people are examined, the term sexual health is used to describe the absence of disease and disability related to sexuality and the sense of sexual well-being. It has been defined as a positive combination of the physical, emotional, intellectual, and social aspects of sexuality. Sexuality influences thoughts, feelings, interactions, and actions between individuals, motivating people to find love, contact, warmth, and intimacy. Sexuality can be expressed in many different ways and it has been determined that it is closely linked to the environment in which people live. Reproductive health is defined as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity in all matters related to the reproductive system, its functions and processes. Reproductive health therefore means that people can live a satisfying and safe sex life and have the freedom to decide when and how often to use their reproductive capacity. Men and women have the right to have access to safe, effective, affordable and acceptable methods of family planning, the right to be informed, and the right to access health services that will ensure a safe pregnancy and delivery, and the chance to have a healthy baby. The scope of reproductive health includes methods, techniques and services that contribute to reproductive health and welfare by providing reproductive health care, preventing and solving reproductive health problems. The aim of reproductive health includes not only reproductive and STI-related counseling and care, but also sexual health, which is to improve life and personal relationships (WHO, 2006).Adolescents and young people, like all individuals, have the right to make decisions concerning their own bodies and to access services that support this right. Ensuring sexual and reproductive health for all depends on the realization of sexual and reproductive rights based on human rights (Engel et al., 2019). Based on all these reasons; In this study, it is aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of sexual and reproductive health education given to university students.