Abstract:
Background; Sexual and reproductive health rights are preconditions for the achievement of sustainable development goals, Despite the provision of family education at the primary level, and young peoples face several health problems due to violations of these rights. Therefore, this study aimed to assess knowledge towards sexual and reproductive health rights and associated factors among youths in Debark town.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was employed among 537 youths in Debark town from March 8-20/2020. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select study participants. Data were collected through interviewer-administered questionnaires. Data were entered into Epi Data version 4.6 then exported to SPSS version 23 software and Binary logistic regression was done to identify the factors associated with youth’s knowledge towards sexual and reproductive health rights. Adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence interval and P-value less than 0.05 was taken as statistically significant.
Results: more than half (54%) of youths were knowledgeable about sexual and reproductive health rights. Utilization of reproductive health service(AOR=7.35;95% CI:3.94,13.69) Participating in the reproductive health club (AOR=5.35;95% CI:1.59,9.75), availability of information source for sexual and reproductive health service (AOR=4.0, 95% CI:1.69,9.23) and discussing with parents on sexual and reproductive health issues (AOR=3.75,95% CI:1.44,9.76), were significantly associated with knowledge of sexual and reproductive health rights.
Conclusion The level of knowledge of youths on sexual and reproductive health rights was found to be low. The ministry of health should collaborate with the zonal health department and woreda health office to encourage youths to actively participate in reproductive health clubs and access sexual and reproductive health services.
Keywords Knowledge, Sexual and reproductive health rights, youths, Ethiopia