Sexual and reproductive health stigma and associated factors among female medical students at Pamukkale University: a cross-sectional survey

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study is to evaluate the perceptions of stigmatization regarding sexual and reproductive health and the associated factors among female students at Pamukkale University Faculty of Medicine.
Materials and methods: This study is a cross-sectional research conducted at Pamukkale University Faculty of Medicine between February 17 and 27, 2025. The study population consisted of 850 female students enrolled in the 2024–2025 academic year, and based on the sample size calculation performed using the G*Power program, a minimum of 369 participants was determined. A convenience sampling method was employed. The dependent variable of the study was the Sexual and Reproductive Health Stigmatization Scale in Young Women. Data were collected through Google Forms. Higher total scores obtained from the scale indicate increased stigmatizing attitudes toward sexual and reproductive health. The minimum possible score on the scale is 0, while the maximum score is 20.
Results: Female students scored 7.20±2.98 points on the scale. Approximately 25.2% (n=93) of the participants reported obtaining their basic knowledge on sexual matters from friends, while 26.6% (n=98) stated that their families exert pressure on their freedom of life and worldview. Within the family context, about 82.3% (n=304) indicated that sexual health issues were not discussed. The stigmatization score of those who obtained basic knowledge from their families (6.58±3.64) was significantly lower compared to those who obtained information from websites (7.75±2.78) (p=0.024); on the other hand, the stigmatization score of participants who perceived family pressure (8.13±2.61) was significantly higher (p<0.001).
Conclusion: The sexual and reproductive health stigmatization scores of female students were below the moderate level. This finding indicates that even medical education does not completely eliminate stigmatization.

Keywords

• Sexual and reproductive health
• stigmatization
• sexual health
• stigmatization of sexual and reproductive health among women

Pamukkale Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi’nde öğrenim gören kadın tıp öğrencilerinin perspektifinden cinsel ve üreme sağlığı damgalanması ve ilişkili etmenler: kesitsel bir çalışma

Abstract

Amaç: Bu çalışmada, Pamukkale Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi’ndeki kadın öğrencilerin cinsel ve üreme sağlığına dair damgalama algıları ve etkileyen faktörlerin değerlendirilmesi amaçlanmaktadır.
Gereç ve yöntem: Pamukkale Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi’nde 17-27 Şubat 2025 tarihleri arasında gerçekleştirilen kesitsel bir çalışmadır. 2024-2025 akademik yılında öğrenim gören 850 kadın öğrenci evreni oluştururken, G*Power programı kullanılarak yapılan örneklem hesabında, minimum 369 katılımcı belirlenmiştir. Kolayda örnekleme yöntemi kullanılmıştır. Araştırmanın bağımlı değişkeni, Genç Kadınlarda Cinsel ve Üreme Sağlığı Damgalama Ölçeği’dir. Veriler, Google Forms üzerinden toplanmıştır. Ölçekten alınan toplam puanın artması cinsel ve üreme sağlığına yönelik damgalama tutumunun arttığını göstermektedir. Ölçekten alınabilecek en düşük puan “0”, en yüksek puan “20”dir.
Bulgular: Kadın öğrenciler ölçekten 7,20±2,98 puan almışlardır. Katılımcıların yaklaşık %25,2’si (n=93) cinsel konularla ilgili temel bilgilerini arkadaşlarından edinmekte, %26,6'sı (n=98) ise ailelerinin yaşam özgürlüğü ve dünya görüşü üzerinde baskı oluşturduğunu düşünmektedir. Aile içinde, katılımcıların yaklaşık %82,3'ü (n=304) cinsel sağlık konularının tartışılmadığını belirtmiştir. Temel bilgiyi aileden edinenlerin damgalama puanı (6,58±3,64), web sitelerinden bilgi alanlara (7,75±2,78) göre anlamlı olarak daha düşük (p=0,024); aile baskısı algısı olanların damgalama puanı (8,13±2,61) ise anlamlı derecede daha yüksektir (p<0,001).

Sonuç: Kadın öğrencilerin cinsel ve üreme sağlığı damgalama puanları orta düzeyin altındadır. Bu durum tıp eğitiminin dahi damgalamayı tam olarak ortadan kaldırmadığını göstermektedir.

Keywords

• Cinsel üreme sağlığı
• damgalama
• cinsel sağlık
• kadınlarda cinsel üreme sağlığı damgalamasI

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