An Assessment of Sexual and Reproductive health - seeking behaviours among female students at Chipata College of Nursing and Midwifery in the Eastern Province of Zambia

Abstract

This study was conducted to assess the SRH-seeking behaviours of female students at Chipata College of Nursing and Midwifery in the Eastern Province of Zambia. The study used a qualitative approach to collect diverse views on the SRH-seeking behaviours of the participants using in-depth interviews. Cumulatively, the sample size, which was purposely drawn from three study cohorts, was 24 female students, i.e., 8 from each study cohort. On SRH advice from parents/guardians, most participants, especially those from rural areas, did not discuss issues of SRH with their parents or guardians because of their perceived beliefs in cultural and traditional norms, but those from the urban areas discussed a lot about SRH matters with their parents/guardians. Regarding SRH services accessed, participants from rural areas appreciated the pregnancy prevention services, while those from urban areas appreciated the contraception services. Among service providers consulted, most participants consulted private health facilities on sexual and reproductive issues, followed by those who consulted their peers and a youth-friendly health centre. Regarding challenges participants faced, most participants said that negative attitudes from some healthcare practitioners were a big problem, followed by those participants who saw a lack of confidentiality/privacy as another problem. On recommendations, all participants made recommendations on how to improve the sexual and reproductive health services at the college, with the majority recommending an improvement in attitudes of some health practitioners, followed by a recommendation on adherence to confidentiality and privacy norms. SRH services at Chipata College of Nursing and Midwifery were a concern as they affected female students’ choices, which ultimately affected their lives morally and educationally. The Ministry of Health and cooperating partners should design and implement youth-friendly SRH policies that can create a more supportive environment for female students.