A youth-led reproductive health program in a university setting

摘要

>Background: Reproductive health problems affect youths in all countries. There is an urgent need to enhance youths reproductive health services to provide a healthy life for this group. In this regard, the present study aimed to evaluate the Reproductive Health Peer Education Program based on the opinion of university students. >Methods: This interventional study was conducted in Qazvin University of Medical Sciences through the peer education method. The participants of this study were 24 peer educators who received training in a 40 hour peer educator training course. The peer education program was implemented in the university. In order to evaluate this community- based intervention, 329 students were selected through the stratified sampling method and their opinion was assessed. Descriptive statistical methods were used by SPSS software for data analysis. >Results: The results of the study revealed that peer education was accepted by 64.7% (n= 213) of the students, according to their opinion. The educational priorities of the students were as follows: pre-marriage counseling (78%, n= 166); STI/AIDS (17%, n= 36); and contraception (5%, n= 11). The peer education program was recognized as the most required reproductive health service in theuniversity by 55.3% (n= 118) of the students. They believed that the most important duties of thepeer educators were: education (33.5%, n= 71); counseling (30.4%, n= 65); referring to a counselingcenter (21.6%, n= 46) and referring to a therapeutic center (14.5%, n= 31). Also, the students statedthat confidentiality (53%, n= 113), suitable communication (26%, n= 55) and sufficient knowledge(21%, n= 45) were desired characteristics for the peer educators.>Conclusion: According to the students' opinion, peer education could provide suitable reproductivehealth services and could also be beneficial for reproductive health promotion and might reinforcepositive behaviors in youths. Reproductive health peer- counseling is a sensitive process, and it isbest to be conducted under the supervision of specialists.