KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE TOWARDS SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH INCLUDING COMPREHENSIVE SEXUALITY EDUCATION AMONG FIRST YEAR STUDENTS OF UNIVERSITY MALAYSIA SABAH (UMS), MALAYSIA

Authors

  • San San Win Reproductive Health Department, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University Malaysia Sabah, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
  • Helen Benedict Lasimbang Reproductive Health Department, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University Malaysia Sabah, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
  • Mie Mie Cho Win Reproductive Health Department, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University Malaysia Sabah, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
  • M Tanveer Hossain Parash Department of Biomedical Science and Therapeutics, University Malaysia Sabah, Sabah, Malaysia
  • Sai Nay Lynn Aung Independent Consultant, Master of Arts (Population and Reproductive Health Research)
  • Yeap Boon Tat Medicine Based Department, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University Malaysia Sabah
  • Than Myint Retired Director General, Department of Medical Sciences, Myanmar

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37268/mjphm/vol.20/no.1/art.449

Keywords:

Knowledge, Attitude, Behaviour, Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH), Comprehensive sexuality Education (CSE), first year university students

Abstract

This study aims to assess knowledge, attitude and behavior in sexual and reproductive health (SRH) including comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) among 439 first year students; 213 sciences and 226 arts students from 5 Faculties of University Malaysia Sabah (2016-2017). Exposure of Malaysian students to sexual education is limited to science subjects which are only being taught at upper elementary and secondary high school levels. Arts students are less exposed to sexual education across Malaysia as it is delivered in Basic Science subject only. It was a university-based, cross-sectional, descriptive study. Pretested self- administered questionnaire was anonymously completed by all participants and was conducted from November 2016 to January 2017. Students’ demographic characteristics from Science and Arts streams were same except females, Sabah ethnics and Malays were more in Arts. Awareness of HIV/AIDS, Condom, Wet dream, COC pills and abortion services were more in Science students and statistically significant. 34.3 % and 81.2% of Science students agreed that CSE should be introduced in primary and secondary school but not statistically significant. 22 out of 439 students were sexually active. Science students had more knowledge about SRH and favourable attitude towards sexuality education but less favourable behaviour of watching and reading pornographic materials. It was concluded that there were gaps in knowledge, attitude and behaviour of SRH and need to remedy these by giving appropriate CSE classes to first-year university students in an elective module according to their culture and religious beliefs in accord with International Technical Guidance on Sexuality Education (ITGSE).

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Published

2020-05-01

How to Cite

San San Win, Helen Benedict Lasimbang, Mie Mie Cho Win, M Tanveer Hossain Parash, Sai Nay Lynn Aung, Yeap Boon Tat, & Than Myint. (2020). KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE TOWARDS SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH INCLUDING COMPREHENSIVE SEXUALITY EDUCATION AMONG FIRST YEAR STUDENTS OF UNIVERSITY MALAYSIA SABAH (UMS), MALAYSIA. Malaysian Journal of Public Health Medicine, 20(1), 184–191. https://doi.org/10.37268/mjphm/vol.20/no.1/art.449

Issue

Vol. 20 No. 1 (2020): Volume 20 No.1

Section

Articles