# Knowledge and attitudes on sexual and reproductive health among adolescents and youths in Refugee Settlements: A case of Palorinya, Uganda

## TL;DR

This study examines sexual and reproductive health knowledge and attitudes among adolescents and youths in a Ugandan refugee settlement.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into SRH knowledge levels and associated factors among refugee adolescents and youths in Palorinya, Uganda.

## Key findings

- High knowledge of family planning (75%) and STIs (94.5%) was observed, but menstruation knowledge was low (6.5%).
- Older age, monthly income, and being married were associated with higher SRH knowledge.
- SRH knowledge was higher than previously reported in similar African refugee populations.

## Abstract

Sexual and reproductive health (SRH) of refugee adolescents and youths is a neglected area with high unmet needs. This paper presents the levels and factors associated with Knowledge and attitudes towards SRH services in the same population in Palorinya settlement, Uganda.

The cross-sectional study utilized proportional stratified sampling techniques to generate data from 801 participants. Knowledge of SRH focused on family planning, sexually transmitted infections, and menstruation. Multivariable modified Poisson and logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify factors associated with knowledge and attitudes regarding SRH.

Overall, knowledge of FP and STIs was high, at 75% and 94.5%, respectively, but knowledge of menstruation was low, at 6.5%. Having knowledge of FP was associated with age 16-19 years (APR 1.75, 95% CI=1.55-1.98), age 20-24 years (APR 1.86; 95% CI=1.63-2.12), having a monthly income (>=50,000 (APR=1.33; 95%CI (1.12-1.59)] and being married/in-union (APR=1.09, 95%CI:1.02-1.1.16). Nearly the same pattern was observed for knowledge of STIs, menstruation, and positive attitudes toward SRH.

The level of knowledge of SRH on STIs and FP was higher than what was reported in other studies among young refugees in Africa. Knowledge on SRH increased with education; thus, increasing opportunities for higher education level is likely to improve knowledge on SRH, though this is subject to further investigations