Abstract:
Objective To investigate the current status and factors associated with reproductive health literacy among women at childbearing age in Sichuan Province, so as to provide evidence for health education policy making and intervention measures development.
Methods Based on core reproductive health knowledge, an assessment questionnaire of reproductive health literacy for women at childbearing age was developed by expert consultation, and the reliability and validity of the questionnaire was tested. Stratified convenience sampling method was used to recruit 4 300 women at childbearing age. A cross-sectional survey was conducted to investigate reproductive health literacy in Sichuan Province. Likert 5-level scoring method was used to assign points to each item of reproductive health literacy, and Delphi method was used to determine their weights. The total score of reproductive health literacy and the score of each item were calculated, and whether having reproductive health literacy was determined according to the judgment standard. Univariate analysis and logistic multivariate analysis were performed.
Results A total of 4 181 valid questionnaires were collected.The average age of the study subjects was 28.4(25.4-34.0) years old, majority(60.06%) of them lived in rural areas, and 37.60% of them were college/bachelor degree and above. The total median score of reproductive health literacy was 66.5 points. The overall rate of having reproductive health literacy was 15.43%. Univariate analysis showed that the reproductive health literacy scores of women at childbearing age were significantly different in terms of age, education level, marital status, residence area, nationality, history of pregnancy, childbearing and abortion, family monthly income per capita, and reproductive system diseases within the past 1 year(all
P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that family monthly income per capita, education level, residence area, history of abortion and reproductive system diseases within the past 1 year were factors associated with reproductive health literacy level.
Conclusion The reproductive health literacy level of women at childbearing age in Sichuan Province needs to be further improved. It is recommended to strengthen reproductive health education for women at childbearing age with low income and low education level living in rural areas, and to focus on the population with a history of abortion and reproductive system diseases within the past 1 year.