Abstract
Objective
To assess university students’ knowledge of reproductive health information about miscarriage.
Methods
A single-centre, cross-sectional study was carried out using an online survey at a higher education institution in the Republic of Ireland between April and May of 2016. A total of 746 university students’ responses were analysed.
Results
Approximately 60% and 70% of college students correctly identified features of first and second trimester miscarriage. After adjusting for confounders, male students were two times more likely to have a poor knowledge of features of miscarriage compared to females (aOR 2.0, 95% CI 1.3–3.0 and aOR 1.7, 95% CI 1.1–2.6 for first and second trimester respectively). Poor knowledge of features of first trimester miscarriage was less common among older students and students who were married, cohabiting or in a relationship (aOR 0.4, 95% CI 0.2–0.6 and aOR 0.4, 95% CI 0.3–0.8 respectively). Students who studied Medicine and Health were more likely to identify any type of treatment for miscarriage compared to students who studied other disciplines. Students who studied Arts and Social Science were more likely to overestimate the percentage of miscarriages with an identified cause compared to students who studied Medicine and Health.
Conclusion
Our results provide additional information about the gap of knowledge in regards to reproductive health information about miscarriage, specifically among university students.
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JS, RR, SM and KOD conception and designed of the survey. JS obtained the data and ISLC analysed them. ISLC and SM interpreted the data. The questionnaire was anonymous and data were only accessed by the authors involved in the study. We confirm that all authors included in this study participated in the drafting and have approved the manuscript for submission. This manuscript has not been published and is not under consideration for publication elsewhere.
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10995_2020_3017_MOESM1_ESM.tif
(TIF 990 kb) Supplementary Fig. 1 Identification of main features of first trimester miscarriage. Total percentage of university students’ awareness of signs and symptoms of first trimester miscarriage
10995_2020_3017_MOESM2_ESM.tif
(TIF 990 kb) Supplementary Fig. 2 Identification of main features of second trimester miscarriage. Total percentage of university students’ awareness of signs and symptoms of second trimester miscarriage
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San Lazaro Campillo, I., Meaney, S., Sheehan, J. et al. Reproductive Health Knowledge About Miscarriage: A Cross-Sectional Study of University Students. Matern Child Health J 25, 282–292 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-020-03017-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-020-03017-y