Deficits in young men's knowledge about accessing sexual and reproductive health services

J Am Coll Health. 2017 Nov-Dec;65(8):579-584. doi: 10.1080/07448481.2017.1352589. Epub 2017 Jul 17.

Abstract

Objective: The current study aimed to examine (1) gender differences in college students' knowledge of sexual and reproductive health care (K-SRHC) service access points, and (2) the relationship between demographic and psychosocial factors and college students' overall K-SRHC service access points.

Methods and participants: Self-report online surveys were administered to 18- and 19-year-old college students from a northern California public university (N = 183; 39.9% men; 32.2% Latino).

Results: Women reported higher overall K-SRHC service access point scores than men. Findings indicated that gender and family planning self-efficacy were the strongest correlates of K-SRHC service access points. Men with a regular source of health care had higher K-SRHC service access points than men without.

Conclusions: Results suggest that college men need additional education about how to access sexual and reproductive health services to support their own and their partner's health.

Keywords: Gender; health care knowledge; men; sexual and reproductive health care access.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Attitude to Health*
  • California
  • Female
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Reproductive Health Services / statistics & numerical data*
  • Reproductive Health*
  • Sex Factors
  • Sexual Behavior / psychology*
  • Students / psychology*
  • Students / statistics & numerical data
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Universities
  • Young Adult