Sexual and reproductive health knowledge among female college students in Wuhan, China

The purpose of this study was to explore demographic correlates of sexual and reproductive health knowledge among Chinese female college students. A total of 4769 participants were surveyed about sexual and reproductive health knowledge and related sociodemographic factors, using random cluster sampling between 2005 and 2006, in 16 colleges and universities in Wuhan, China. To evaluate knowledge, the scores of 60 questions on reproduction, contraception, and sexually transmitted infections were combined for a possible score of 100. The average score on the knowledge scale was 42.6 +/- 13.0 (1.1 to 79.7). Knowledge scores were statistically significant (P < 0.01) between different sociodemographic factors using chi(2) test. Multilinear stepwise regression showed that 11 of 16 factors, including age, grade, major, menarche age, family residence, being the only child, and mother's occupation were significantly related to knowledge. Female college students lack knowledge of sexual and reproductive health, and their knowledge was influenced by numerous sociodemographic factors.