Skip to main content

Table 2 Participant’s learning preference and source of information about Sexual and Reproductive Health matters (N = 504)

From: Where and how do young people like to get their sexual and reproductive health (SRH) information? Experiences from students in higher learning institutions in Mbeya, Tanzania: a cross-sectional study

Variable

Females (N = 215)

n (%)

Males (N = 289)

n (%)

Total (N = 504)

n (%)

Parent(s)/guardian(s) living with participant at age 12–18 years

 Both parents

154 (71.6)

221 (76.5)

375 (74.4)

 Single parent

31 (14.4)

39 (13.5)

70 (13.9)

 Grandparents

17 (7.9)

19 (6.6)

36 (7.1)

 Adoptive parents/guardian

13 (6.1)

10 (3.4)

23 (4.6)

Participant’s ability to discuss SRH matters with parent(s)/guardian(s) at age 12–18 years

 Easy (with one or both)

61 (28.4)

79 (27.3)

140 (27.8)

 Difficult

72 (33.5)

92 (31.8)

164 (32.5)

 Did not discuss (with either)

57 (26.5)

86 (29.8)

143 (28.4)

 Varied/depended on topic

25 (11.6)

32 (11.1)

57 (11.3)

How participant learnt about SRH matters while growing up (multiple responses apply)

 Father (including step or adoptive)

9 (2.9)

33 (7.8)

42 (5.7)

 Mother (including step or adoptive)

41 (13.3)

32 (7.6)

73 (10.0)

 Brother(s)/sister(s)

16 (5.2)

38 (9.0)

54 (7.4)

 Friends of about my own age

93 (30.1)

128 (30.3)

221 (30.2)

 Lessons at school

79 (25.6)

87 (20.6)

166 (22.7)

 Media/Books/newspapers/Internet/pornographic websites

42 (13.6)

75 (17.7)

117 (16.0)

 Doctor, nurse or clinic

12 (3.9)

11 (2.6)

23 (3.1)

 First (girlfriend/boyfriend) or sexual partner

14 (4.5)

18 (4.3)

32 (4.4)

 Others

3 (1.0)

1 (0.2)

4 (0.5)

Preferred parent/guardian sex when discussing sexual matters

 Male adult only

7 (3.2)

124 (42.9)

131 (26.0)

 Female adult only

103 (47.9)

34 (11.8)

137 (27.2)

 I had no preference

96 (44.7)

114 (39.4)

210 (41.6)

 Not reported

9 (4.2)

17 (5.9)

26 (5.2)

Participant received Sexual and Reproductive Health Education (SRE) while at school

 Yes

160 (74.4)

225 (77.9)

385 (76.4)

 No

55 (25.6)

64 (22.1)

119 (23.6)

Level at which SRH education received (multiple responses apply)

 Primary school

27 (12.1)

40 (12.5)

67 (13.3)

 Secondary school O′ level

142 (63.7)

211 (65.7)

353 (70.0)

 Secondary school A’ level

43 (19.3)

58 (18.1)

101 (20.0)

 Others

11 (4.9)

12 (3.7)

23 (4.6)

Ever received a SRH education while at University

 Yes

108 (49.8)

158 (55.1)

266 (52.8)

 No

109 (50.2)

129 (45.0)

238 (47.2)