REPRODUCTIVE ATTITUDES OF STUDENTS OF BASHKIR STATE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY

Abstract

The aim was to analyze the reproductive attitudes of students at Bashkir State Medical University.
Material and methods. Students were offered to undergo anonymous online survey, consisting of 30 open and closed-ended questions. Data analysis was done using Statistica 12 software.
Results. The respondents included 433 females (75.3%) and 142 males (24.7%), with an average age of 19 [18;21] years old. 58.09% of respondents reported having sexual experience. The actual age of sexual debut among the respondents was 17.5 [16;18] years old, with 57.5% of respondents reporting it not aligning with the optimal age. The students considered the optimal age for childbirth to be 25 [24;27] years old. 3.65% of respondents reported pregnancies in a couple, with 71.43% of them considering it desirable. 96.52% of students believe that preparation for childbirth is necessary.
Conclusion. Students' reproductive attitudes are characterized by a sexual debut age of 16 to 18 years old, and by a significant gap between the age of sexual debut and the assumed age of childbirth - 7.5 years. Most respondents prefer barrier contraceptives. Mass media and the Internet were considered the most competent sources of knowledge on reproductive behavior. More than half of the surveyed individuals consider medical abortion an acceptable method of family planning.