Salient features related to the reproductive health experience among female undergraduates

Abstract

The female undergraduates are growing up in circumstances different from those of their parents, with access to higher education, different job opportunities, and more exposure to new ideas through media and other avenues. The environment in which female undergraduates are making decisions related to their sexual and reproductive health is also gradually evolving. The age at marriage for women in Sri Lanka is further rising, the imbalanced sex ratio of undergraduates in universities is widening, and the psychological impact of breakdown of the love affair is increasing. This paper is based on a study undertaken to identify various factors related to the sexual and reproductive health outcomes among female undergraduates. A survey was conducted in 2009 with a sample of unmarried female undergraduates, who represent 16 districts in Sri Lanka, and examined their level of relationship with different people including parents, sources of seeking assistance towards building a love affair, experience of unintentional pregnancy, abortion, and sexually transmitted diseases, and opinions about current sexual and reproductive health behavior of young people. Apart from parents and other family members, a large majority of the undergraduates has maintained strong relationships with female friends and a fiance. However, with regard to the sexual and reproductive health issues, the parental relationship is not important and, the advisory role of peer group becomes more influential. Although they disagree with sex before marriage, they also feel that it is a woman’s right and the so called “virginity test” is rejected by a large majority. Furthermore, the collapse of affection with fiance and subsequent mental stress have been cited by many respondents as the major outcome of their sexual and reproductive health experience. The occurrences, traditionally identified as consequences of unwanted pregnancy, induced abortion and sexually transmitted diseases are reported to be less prevalent among female undergraduates. The study concludes that mental stress due to the collapse of affection with the fiance may be a decisive factor of the performance of academic life of female undergraduates. It also highlights the necessity to assist them with an advocacy programme.