Assessment of Reproductive Health Education Awareness among Adolescents in Tertiary Institutions in Imo State Nigeria
Abstract
This study assessed reproductive health education awareness among adolescents in tertiary institutions in Imo State, Nigeria. A correlational research design was adopted to examine the relationships between demographic variables, exposure to reproductive health education, sources of reproductive health information, and students’ awareness. The population comprised adolescents in selected tertiary institutions, from which a sample of 300 respondents was drawn using a multi-stage sampling technique. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire titled Reproductive Health Education Awareness Questionnaire (RHEAQ), which was validated by experts and yielded a reliability coefficient above 0.894 using Cronbach’s alpha, indicating that the instrument was reliable. Prior to inferential analysis, key assumptions underlying Pearson Product Moment Correlation and Multiple Regression were tested and satisfied, including linearity, normality, homoscedasticity, and absence of multicollinearity (VIF < 10). Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation and multiple regression at the 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that demographic variables had a weak but significant relationship with awareness (r = 0.18–0.25, p < 0.05). Exposure to reproductive health education showed a strong positive relationship with awareness (r = 0.63, p < 0.05). Furthermore, sources of reproductive health information: school, media, peers, and health professionals had a significant joint influence on awareness (R = 0.79, R² = 0.62, p < 0.05), with media emerging as the strongest predictor. The study concluded that reproductive health education awareness among adolescents is significantly influenced by both exposure and access to diverse information sources. It was recommended that tertiary institutions strengthen reproductive health education programmes, utilize media platforms effectively, and promote peer and professional engagement to enhance awareness and informed decision-making among students.
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