The analysis of students' attitude to healthy lifestyle and reproductive health care

Abstract

Introduction. In connection with low competency of young people in the issue of life safety it is relevant to analyze entirely the students` attitude to healthy lifestyle. Also it is important to assess the students` knowledge about reproductive health and ways of keeping it well. Materials and methods. The authors undertook questionnaire method and asked anonymously seven hundred sixty three students of Samara National Research University. Survey consists of 38 questions regarding students` age, leisure time, academic performance and influence of the process of education on health, family social status, attitude to sport, psychoactive substances. Also students were asked about their knowledge of healthy lifestyle components, sexually transmitted infections, possibility of prevention and contraception. Results. The authors found out that young men do sports more often than girls. Also boys use more often cold training and eat regularly. Every tenth girl has a lack sleep, sleep duration is less than 5-6 hours. 30% of boys and girls drink alcohol two or three times a month, 35% of students smoke. 12.45% of young people (men and women) experimented with drugs. Peculiarities of students`sexual behaviour are early beginning of sexual intercourse and frequent changing of sexual partners. The authors revealed low level of students` knowledge about contraception, sexually transmitted infections and its sequela, preventive measures. Limitations. Only students of Samara National Research University were involved into this investigation except students of Biology Faculty (because they are more informed in the field of healthy life style and reproductive health) and students who do sports professionally or who have chronic diseases. Conclusion. The problem of reproductive health care and primary prevention of sexually transmitted infections can`t be solved only by medical staff. Correction of risky behaviour is an interdisciplinary challenge that demands comprehensive approach focused on group and social norm changing. Universities must play an important role in this issue making it possible for professors to have classes of academic discipline such as «Family health», « Fundamentals of Medicine» where qualified professors with higher medical education can discuss with students the issue of reproductive behavior.