BACKGROUND

While adolescent pregnancies in the Eastern Visayas region of the Philippines have declined over the past five years, young mothers remain at risk of repeat pregnancies, which continue to expose them and their children to health and socioeconomic risks in this vulnerable region.

This study aims to collect baseline information on mothers who experienced early pregnancy in Eastern Visayas and to identify significant differences in maternal characteristics based on type of residence and age. The findings will be used by a nongovernmental organization to plan and develop targeted interventions for this vulnerable population.

This study utilized a descriptive cross-sectional design to collect data on mothers who experienced early pregnancy in four selected provinces of Eastern Visayas. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, an independent t-test, and the Mann-Whitney U test.

A total of 296 mothers participated in the survey. Among them, 80.1% were in high school during their first pregnancy, and 88.2% were unemployed at the time of the study. The youngest age at first pregnancy was 12 years. The participants' male partners were at least five years older (39.8%) and ten years older (11.1%). Significant differences were observed in the use of family planning method, number and status of pregnancies, and history of preterm labor.

Results suggest that adolescent pregnancy remains a public health concern in Eastern Visayas, particularly among lowincome teenagers with limited educational attainment, whose parents also had minimal education. The youngest reported age of pregnancy was 12 years. Therefore, efforts should focus on increasing access to family planning services, providing comprehensive reproductive health education, and enhancing maternal and child health services.

Introduction: Despite policy actions and strategic efforts for improving the reproductive and sexual health of adolescents by promoting the uptake of adolescent reproductive and sexual health (ARSH) services, the utilisation rate remains significantly low, especially in rural areas of India. This study aimed to assess the utilisation of these services by adolescents in rural West Bengal and its associated determinants. Methods: This mixed-method study was conducted from May to September 2021 in the Gosaba rural block of South 24 Parganas, West Bengal. Quantitative data were collected from 326 adolescents using a pre-tested structured questionnaire. Qualitative data were collected via four focus group discussions among 30 adolescents and key-informant interviews among six healthcare workers. Quantitative data were analysed using SPSS, while qualitative data were analysed thematically. Results: Ninety-six (29.4%) adolescents had utilised ARSH services at least once during adolescence. The factors associated with non-utilisation of ARSH services were younger age, female sex, increasing reproductive health stigma and decreasing parent–adolescent communication related to sexual health. Qualitative exploration revealed that unawareness regarding services, perceived lack of privacy and confidentiality at healthcare facilities and disruption of services post-emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic were some major barriers to ARSH service utilisation. Conclusion A multi-component strategy, including promotion of adolescent-friendly health clinics, community support interventions associated with motivation and counselling of parents regarding the importance of adolescent reproductive health, is needed to improve the utilisation of ARSH services. Necessary steps to correct the deficiencies at the facility level should also be prioritised.
Adolescent ; Reproductive Health Services ; Sexual Health ; Qualitative Research ; Rural Population

Objective: Despite the provision of local health policies promoting the utilization of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services of adolescents, SRH services utilization remains very low and little information is known concerning the factors which may influence adolescents' use of these SRH services. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and determinants of school-based SRH services utilization among secondary school students.

Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study that used a self-administered questionnaire to gather data among students in one public secondary school in the City of Dasmariñas. A total of 24 sections from Grades 8 to 12 were randomly selected using stratified cluster sampling. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data using Epi Info version 7.3.2.1.

Results: Among 1,218 students who answered the questionnaire, 168 students (13.8%) utilized the SRH services in the Teen Health Kiosk (THK) during SY 2019-20. Students with favorable attitudes towards SRH issues (predisposing factor) were twice more likely to utilize the SRH services (Adjusted odds ratio, AOR 1.75, 95% CI 1.12-2.74) and those who have positive perceived accessibility on the SRH services (enabling factor) were 2.5 times more likely to utilize the SRH services (AOR 2.46, 95% CI 1.66 - 3.66).

Conclusion: Attitudes towards SRH issues and perceived accessibility to SRH services were found to be determinants of SRH services utilization in the THK of the selected public secondary school in the City of Dasmariñas. Even with the marked increase in the utilization of SRH services in the THK from 0.2% in SY 2018-19 to 13.8% in SY 2019-20, intensified efforts are still needed in order to target students' attitudes on SRH and accessibility of THK and the SRH services it offers to its clients. It is recommended that the existing THK Club be strengthened as this will play a significant role in changing the attitudes of students towards SRH issues, thus increasing the utilization of SRH services. Additionally, formulating an SRH policy at the school level targeting THK's accessibility will be helpful in increasing the utilization of school-based SRH services. For one, a policy mandating THK service providers to deliver services beyond school hours may be discussed such that it can also cater students who are attending the school during weekends (i.e. ALS students, Open High students). Likewise, policy makers in the City Schools Division Office including their top management and personnel from the Health and Nutrition Unit as well as school administrators must endeavor to provide a more conducive THK where privacy and confidentiality can be maintained at all times and clients can freely discuss SRH issues with the THK service provider. An initiative to provide a separately detached room for the THK is encouraged in order to provide a more suitable counselling area and to ensure privacy and confidentiality of student clients and their shared information.

reproductive health. However, no previous studies have reported on pregnancy, childbirth, and puerperium outcomes (PCPOs) in female firefighters.METHODS: The present study compared hospital admissions for PCPOs, based on 10th revision of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10) codes, among Korean female firefighters with those of the general Korean population. Standardized admission ratios (SARs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated.RESULTS: The study population included 1,766 female firefighters. Total follow-up duration was 9,659 person-years. Compared to the general female population, the female firefighters' SARs were higher in all admissions for PCPOs (SAR, 1.92; 95% CI: 1.79–2.05); pregnancy and abortive outcomes (SAR, 1.56; 95% CI: 1.12–2.12); other maternal disorders predominantly related to pregnancy (SAR, 2.65; 95% CI: 1.99–3.46); maternal care related to the fetus, amniotic cavity, and possible delivery problems (SAR, 2.13; 95% CI: 1.74–2.57); labor and delivery complications (SAR, 1.55; 95% CI: 1.15–2.06); delivery (SAR, 1.94; 95% CI: 1.80–2.08); and complications predominantly related to puerperium (SAR, 4.68; 95% CI: 2.02–9.23).CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed high SARs in all and specific subcategories of PCPOs in female firefighters.]]>
Female ; Fetus ; Firefighters ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; International Classification of Diseases ; Korea ; Parturition ; Postpartum Period ; Pregnancy ; Reproductive Health

reproductive health of women. Thus, we have focused to review the scientific evidence of a causal relationship between exposure to npEDCs and representative female reproductive issues such as menstrual cycle, endometriosis, uterine fibroids, polycystic ovarian syndrome and infertility/subfertility. Though not all studies indicated a positive correlation of npEDCs with female reproductive issues, the reviewed data illustrated that the majority of the available data strengthen the evidence of reproductive health-related actions of npEDCs. In future, recommendations should be made in order to reduce human exposure to npEDCs and to protect from steadily increasing reproductive health risks.]]>
Detergents ; Endocrine Disruptors ; Endometriosis ; Female ; Half-Life ; Humans ; Infertility ; Leiomyoma ; Menstrual Cycle ; Ovary ; Plastics ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome ; Reproductive Health ; Uterus

In 1952, the Japanese Society for Hygiene had once passed a resolution at its 22nd symposium on population control, recommending the suppression of population growth based on the idea of cultivating a healthier population in the area of eugenics. Over half a century has now passed since this recommendation; Japan is witnessing an aging of the population (it is estimated that over 65-year-olds made up 27.7% of the population in 2017) and a decline in the birth rate (total fertility rate 1.43 births per woman in 2017) at a rate that is unparalleled in the world; Japan is faced with a "super-aging" society with low birth rate. In 2017, the Society passed a resolution to encourage all scientists to engage in academic researches to address the issue of the declining birth rate that Japan is currently facing. In this commentary, the Society hereby declares that the entire text of the 1952 proposal is revoked and the ideas relating to eugenics is rejected. Since the Society has set up a working group on the issue in 2016, there have been three symposiums, and working group committee members began publishing a series of articles in the Society's Japanese language journal. This commentary primarily provides an overview of the findings from the published articles, which will form the scientific basis for the Society's declaration. The areas we covered here included the following: (1) improving the social and work environment to balance between the personal and professional life; (2) proactive education on reproductive health; (3) children's health begins with nutritional management in women of reproductive age; (4) workplace environment and occupational health; (5) workplace measures to counter the declining birth rate; (6) research into the effect of environmental chemicals on sexual maturity, reproductive function, and the children of next generation; and (7) comprehensive research into the relationship among contemporary society, parental stress, and healthy child-rearing. Based on the seven topics, we will set out a declaration to address Japan's aging society with low birth rate.
Aging ; Birth Rate ; trends ; Child ; Child Health ; Environmental Exposure ; adverse effects ; prevention & control ; Female ; Health Planning Guidelines ; Humans ; Japan ; epidemiology ; Male ; Occupational Health ; Reproductive Health ; education ; Research Design ; standards ; Societies, Scientific ; organization & administration ; Stress, Psychological ; prevention & control ; Women's Health

PURPOSE: This study aimed to examine the association among sexual double standard, dating violence recognition, and sexual assertiveness among Korean university students. METHODS: Using a cross-sectional survey study in January 2018, Korean university students (N = 322, years; 54.3% female) completed structured questionnaires with the double standard scale, dating violence recognition index, and sexual assertiveness index. The relationship among the variables was analyzed with Pearson's correlations and multiple regression analyses. RESULTS: There were significant correlations among sexual double standard, dating violence recognition, and sexual assertiveness. Sexual double standard (β = .12, p = .043) was determined to influence dating violence recognition. In addition, gender (β = .63, p < .001) and sexual double standard (β = .11, p = .015) were determined to influence dating violence recognition; the explanatory power was 43%. CONCLUSION: These findings will serve as a basis for the development of education programs that help university students to establish appropriate sexual values and enjoy a healthy sex life.
Assertiveness ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Education ; Humans ; Intimate Partner Violence ; Korea ; Reproductive Health ; Sexual Behavior ; Young Adult

Introduction: Adolescence being a transition phase from a child to an adult, commonly associated with high-risk sexual behaviours, which put them at risks of sexually transmitted diseases (STD), HIV and unwanted pregnancy. All these risks can be prevented by having adequate knowledge on sexual and reproductive health (SRH). Hence, this study aimed to determine the sociodemographic determinants of good SRH knowledge among secondary school children in Kuala Kuantan, Pahang Malaysia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 687 secondary school children in Kuala Kuantan, Kuantan, Pahang, using self-administered questionnaire. A multistage cluster sampling was employed to recruit the respondents. Three levels of analysis were conducted to describe the characteristics of the respondents and determining the determinants of good SRH knowledge. Data was analysed using Statistical Package of IBM SPSS Statistics Version 24 and the p value was set to be less than 0.05. Results: The proportion with good SRH knowledge was 58.4%. Upper secondary school age group (AOR 7.142, 95% CI: 4.830, 10.560) and smokers (AOR 2.597, 95% CI: 1.348, 5.004) were found to be significant determinants of good SRH knowledge. Conclusions: The percentage of respondents with good SRH knowledge was just slightly above average. As expected, older school children has the strongest likelihood of having good SRH knowledge. Whether the good SRH knowledge is contributed by the existing SRH curriculum is unclear and requires further exploration. In view of the alarming SRH issues involving younger school children, strategic plan are needed to instil the knowledge at earlier age.
Sexual and reproductive health

PURPOSE: The study was done to investigate the influence of voice behavior, self-esteem and sexual knowledge on sexual assertiveness of nursing college students.METHODS: A structured self-report questionnaire was used to measure voice behavior, self-esteem, sexual knowledge and sexual assertiveness. During March, 2019, data were collected from 133 nursing students in D city and G city. Data were analyzed using t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and stepwise multiple linear regression with the SPSS/WIN 25.0 program.RESULTS: Voice behavior and self-esteem were positively correlated with the sexual assertiveness of participants, while voice behavior was positively correlated with the self-esteem of participants. Also, self-esteem was a significant predictor of sexual assertiveness in nursing college students. The predictor explained 12% of their sexual assertiveness.CONCLUSION: The finding indicates that self-esteem is an important factor for sexual assertiveness of nursing students. It is also expected that self-esteem can further promote their sexual assertiveness.
Assertiveness ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Nursing ; Reproductive Health ; Students, Nursing ; Voice

PURPOSE: University students happen to be in a transitional period at the beginning of one's adult life and thereby establish the basis for their health care. The negative lifestyles followed by students during this period can also affect their reproductive health. The purpose of this study was to identify lifestyle, reproductive health, gender differences and relationships between lifestyle and reproductive health in university students.METHODS: We used a descriptive cross-sectional design. A total of 300 subjects were enrolled. Data were collected using structured questionnaires between October 11 and 25, 2017 and analyzed using SPSS 25.0. Subjects agreed to undergo a face-to-face interview, including administration of the Health Promotion Lifestyle Profile II (HPLP-II) and reproductive health (knowledge, attitude, and behaviors).RESULTS: The mean age of the subjects was 21.4 years. HPLP-II and reproductive health behaviors were significantly different between the genders. The scores of physical activity and nutrition in females were significantly lower than males. The scores of safe sex and sexual responsibility in females were significantly higher than males, and the score of genital health management was significantly lower in females than males. High HPLP-II score was observed to be in correlation with high reproductive health attitudes and behaviors.CONCLUSION: The result revealed differences in lifestyle and reproductive health between both the genders. For improvement of reproductive health of university students, provision of lifestyle intervention including healthy nutritional habits and physical activity is imperative.
Adult ; Delivery of Health Care ; Female ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Life Style ; Male ; Motor Activity ; Reproductive Health ; Safe Sex