University students’ point of views to facilitators and barriers to sexual and reproductive health services

Abstract

Abstract Aim: The right to health is a universal human right, and this includes sexual and reproductive health services. The aim of this study is to explore the opinions of Iranian university students toward facilitators and barriers to sexual and reproductive health services. Materials and methods: In 2012, a random sample of 548 university students completed anonymous, self-administered questionnaires. Topics covered the participants’ attitudes towards facilitators and barriers to sexual and reproductive health services in personal, interpersonal, and structural domains. Results: Mean age of participants was 21.57 years and 57.82% were female. The maximum score of facilitators and barriers to sexual and reproductive health services was related to “Young people’s participation in sexual and reproductive health services provision” and “Fear of stigmatization”, respectively. The results showed that among female university students, the mean score of personal and structural facilitators was significantly higher than the mean score of interpersonal ones (F=12.23, p<0.001). This difference was also reported in barrier factors (F=5.51, p=0.004). Conclusion: Results highlight the roles of policy makers and health service providers in improving accessibility to provided services for young people through the enforcement of facilitators and reduction of barriers, particularly in the areas of personal and structural facilitators focusing on female services.