Study of the Relationship between Awareness of Reproductive Health and Self- Esteem Level in the Students of Shahroud University of Medical Sciences

Background: Adolescents are weakly aware of reproductive health issues. Regarding the high importance of reproductive health and self-esteem level, this study aims at determining the relationship between the awareness of reproductive health and self-esteem.Methods: The population of this cross-sectional study, was the first-semester students who entered into Shahroud University of medical sciences in January ۲۰۱۷. The demographic information, Cooper Smith scale for self-esteem and reproductive health researcher-made scale, were completed by the students. SPSS v۱۶ software and T-test and Chi-square statistical tests were used in analyzing the data.Results: ۱۰۵ students participated in the study. The average age of students was ۲۰.۲ ±۱.۸. The average score of reproductive health scale was ۵۱.۴۸±۱۶.۲۴, and the average score for self-esteem questions was ۳۲.۹۱±۱۳.۰. There was no statistical difference between male and female groups. There was a significant relationship between the awareness of reproductive health and self-esteem level (r=۰.۲۵ and P=۰.۰۰۱).conclusions: In the current research, there was a significant relationship between the awareness of reproductive health and self-esteem level. It is suggested that the youth receive more education on reproductive health because this can lead to mental health, in addition to physical health.Background: Adolescents are weakly aware of reproductive health issues. Regarding the high importance of reproductive health and self-esteem level, this study aims at determining the relationship between the awareness of reproductive health and self-esteem. Methods: The population of this cross-sectional study, was the first-semester students who entered into Shahroud University of medical sciences in January ۲۰۱۷. The demographic information, Cooper Smith scale for self-esteem and reproductive health researcher-made scale, were completed by the students. SPSS v۱۶ software and T-test and Chi-square statistical tests were used in analyzing the data. Results: ۱۰۵ students participated in the study. The average age of students was ۲۰.۲ ±۱.۸. The average score of reproductive health scale was ۵۱.۴۸±۱۶.۲۴, and the average score for self-esteem questions was ۳۲.۹۱±۱۳.۰. There was no statistical difference between male and female groups. There was a significant relationship between the awareness of reproductive health and self-esteem level (r=۰.۲۵ and P=۰.۰۰۱). conclusions: In the current research, there was a significant relationship between the awareness of reproductive health and self-esteem level. It is suggested that the youth receive more education on reproductive health because this can lead to mental health, in addition to physical health.