Sexual and Reproductive Health among University Students in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The influence of gender and sexuality on sexual and reproductive health.

Abstract

The project focuses on sexual and reproductive health among university students in Addis Ababa Ethiopia. The intention is to investigate how gender and sexuality influence student’s sexual and reproductive health. Moreover, the aim is to investigate how youth perceive their knowledge about sexuality and sexual and reproductive health, how they understand the responsibility of women and men in sexuality and sexual and reproductive health and how understandings about sexuality, gender relations and reproduction affect their sexual behaviour. It also investigates how youth’s understandings can be utilized in order to raise awareness and use of sexual and reproductive health services, and to increase the relevance of the information provided.

The study has been conducted at Addis Ababa University, through qualitative methods. 15 in-depth interviews with students, three focus group discussions with students, and five interviews with employees/volunteers at SRH services on campus has been conducted. In total, 35 people have been interviewed. A document analysis of the three strategies National Adolescent and Youth Reproductive Health Strategy 2007-2015, National Adolescent and Youth Health Strategy 2016-2020 and Communication Strategy on HIV/AIDS and Sexual Reproductive Health for Higher Education Institutions has also been conducted. The aim is to make visible (potential) differences at the political/legal level and among laypeople.

The findings indicate that (perceptions of) gender and sexuality strongly influence people’s sexual practices and sexual and reproductive health. It also influences people’s knowledge about the topics and their abilities to engage in safe sex. There also seems to be a gap between the political/legal level and laypeople’s perceptions – both of the problem and what the solutions would be.