Knowledge, attitudes, and self-reported health behaviors related to reproductive health among university students in Poland: A cross-sectional study

Introduction

Reproductive health is a significant area of public health, and the level of knowledge and health behaviors in young adults may be important for their future health and reproductive decisions. The level of health education in students may influence informed decision making regarding health and reproductive plans. Aim of the study: The study aimed to assess the knowledge, opinions, and declared health behaviors of university students in Poland regarding reproductive health. Material and methods: A cross-sectional online survey (CAWI) was conducted in a group of 182 students from Polish universities. Non-random convenience sampling was used. Two standardized tools developed by Juczyński were utilized – the List of Health Criteria (LHC) and the Health Behavior Inventory (HBI) – along with an original, 26-item knowledge test on reproductive health. The analysis included descriptive statistics, a rank analysis of responses in the LHC and HBI, and the evaluation of the percentage of correct answers in the original knowledge test in relation to current medical guidelines.