Examining the correlation between sexual and reproductive health stigmatization level and gender perception: a case of a university in Turkey - a descriptive cross-sectional study

Polat, Filiz; Şenol, Derya Kaya

doi:10.1590/1516-3180.2022.0278.03062022

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Sao Paulo Medical Journal

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Original Article • Sao Paulo Med. J. 141 (2) • 2023 • https://doi.org/10.1590/1516-3180.2022.0278.03062022 copy

Examining the correlation between sexual and reproductive health stigmatization level and gender perception: a case of a university in Turkey - a descriptive cross-sectional study

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Stigmatization, which emerges depending on the sexual behavior of young individuals, leads to negative health and social outcomes, such as shame, social marginalization, violence, and mental health morbidity.

Objective:

This study aimed to examine the correlation between the level of sexual and reproductive health stigma and gender perception in female university students.

DESIGN AND SETTING:

This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at the Faculty of Health Sciences of a university in Turkey.

METHODS:

The data of this study were collected from digital media between July and October 2020 from a study population of 385 students. The data were collected using the Personal Information Form, including the socio-demographic characteristics of students, the Sexual and Reproductive Health Stigmatization Scale in Young Women and the Perception of Gender Scale. Descriptive statistics, independent samples t-test, analysis of variance, and Pearson’s correlation test were used to assess the data.

RESULTS:

It was determined that there was a negative correlation between the Sexual and Reproductive Health Stigmatization Scale in Young Women and the Perception of Gender Scale (r = -0.173, P = 0.001).

CONCLUSION:

It was determined that as the gender perception in the young women who participated in the study increased, the sexual and reproductive health stigmatization level decreased. The sexual and reproductive health stigmatization levels of the participants were at an above average level, and gender perception was at a medium level.

KEY WORDS (MeSH terms):
Sexual health; Reproductive health; Women; Sexual behavior; Gender role

AUTHORS’ KEY WORDS:
Social marginalizations; Traditional societies; Societal norm

		n	%
Age	Under 19 years	50	13
Age	19 years and above	335	87
Year	1st year	106	27.5
	2nd year	146	37.9
	3rd year	74	19.2
	4th year	59	15.3
Mother’s education	≤ Primary education	308	80
	High school	58	13.1
	≥ University	19	4.9
Mother’s profession	Housewife	346	89.9
	Civil servant	10	2.6
	Worker	23	6
	Self-employed	6	1.6
Father’s education	≤ Primary education	217	56.4
	High school	111	28.8
	≥ University	57	14.8
Father’s profession	Civil servant	111	28.8
	Worker	114	29.6
	Self-employed	125	32.5
	Unemployed	35	9.1
Number of siblings	Not applicable	8	2.1
	1 sibling	87	22.6
	2-3 siblings	86	22.3
	≥ 4 siblings	204	53.0
Income status	Income less than expense	49	12.7
	Income equal to expense	299	77.7
	Income more than expense	37	9.6
Monthly allowance	Under 1000 ₺	313	81.3
	1000-2000 ₺	52	13.5
	Above 2000 ₺	20	5.2
Region lived	Mediterranean Region	184	47.8
	Aegean Region	30	7.8
	Central Anatolia Region	76	19.7
	Black Sea Region	9	2.3
	Eastern/Southeastern Anatolia Region	86	22.3
Place of residence	Province	217	56.4
	District	110	28.6
	Rural	58	15
People they lived with	Parents	341	88.6
	Mother	19	4.9
	Father	8	2.1
	Family elders	17	4.4
	Total	385	100.0

		Accepted stigmatization	Internalized stigmatization	Stigma-based attitudes	Total SRHSSYW	PGS
		$\bar{X} \pm SD$	$\bar{X} \pm SD$	$\bar{X} \pm SD$	$\bar{X} \pm SD$	$\bar{X} \pm SD$
Age	≤ 19 years	4.58 ± 1.55	3.54 ± 1.4	6.18 ± 2.33	14.3 ± 4.02	66.76 ± 4.81
	≥ 19 years	4.73 ± 1.36	3.67 ± 1.3	6.08 ± 2.37	14.4 ± 3.67	66.85 ± 4.88
	Significance ^a	P = 0.456	P = 0.511	P = 0.788	P = 0.733	P = 0.902
Year	1st year	4.64 ± 1.40	3.86 ± 1.25	5.85 ± 2.29	14.36 ± 3.64	67.12 ± 5.17
	2nd year	4.73 ± 1.40	3.67 ± 1.29	6.21 ± 2.36	14.61 ± 3.65	66.85 ± 5.08
	3rd year	4.83 ± 1.27	3.29 ± 1.46	5.97 ± 2.38	14.10 ± 3.75	65.71 ± 4.11
	4th year	4.66 ± 1.48	3.67 ± 1.23	6.38 ± 2.45	14.72 ± 3.99	67.69 ± 4.45
	Significance ^b	P = 0.805	P = 0.041	P = 0.471	P = 0.732	P = 0.105
Mother’s education	≤ Primary education	4.69 ± 1.39	3.63 ± 1.30	5.94 ± 2.36	14.27 ± 3.37	67.02 ± 4.59
	High school	4.89 ± 1.29	3.79 ± 1.28	6.62 ± 2.36	15.31 ± 3.45	65.58 ± 5.93
	≥ University	4.47 ± 1.57	3.52 ± 1.64	7.0 ± 1.94	15.0 ± 3.29	67.63 ± 5.16
	Significance ^b	P = 0.448	P = 0.448	P = 0.031	P = 0.123	P = 0.090
Mother’s profession	Housewife	4.71 ± 1.40	3.63 ± 1.31	6.02 ± 2.38	14.36 ± 3.76	66.90 ± 4.85
	Civil servant	4.80 ± 0.91	4.00 ± 1.33	6.30 ± 2.31	15.10 ± 3.87	66.20 ± 4.84
	Worker	5.00 ± 1.16	4.00 ± 1.41	6.78 ± 2.19	15.78 ± 2.95	66.39 ± 5.50
	Self-employed	3.83 ± 1.60	3.00 ± 1.41	7.16 ± 1.47	14.0 ± 2.82	65.83 ± 3.65
	Significance ^b	P = 0.331	P = 0.281	P = 0.316	P = 0.322	P = 0.877
Father’s education	≤ Primary education	4.76 ± 1.33	3.64 ± 1.27	5.98 ± 2.35	14.39 ± 3.19	67.0 ± 4.95
	High school	4.56 ± 1.49	3.61 ± 1.42	6.27 ± 2.17	14.45 ± 3.59	66.5 ± 4.42
	≥ University	4.82 ± 1.37	3.78 ± 1.30	6.15 ± 2.73	14.77 ± 3.97	66.8 ± 5.36
	Significance ^b	P = 0.390	P = 0.695	P = 0.557	P = 0.790	P = 0.679
Father’s profession	Civil servant	4.82 ± 1.24	3.68 ± 1.29	6.24 ± 2.51	14.75 ± 3.61	65.72 ± 4.51
	Worker	4.63 ± 1.39	3.57 ± 1.40	6.00 ± 2.43	14.21 ± 3.81	66.94 ± 4.89
	Self-employed	4.72 ± 1.45	3.64 ± 1.31	5.94 ± 2.26	14.31 ± 3.80	67.43 ± 4.78
	Unemployed	4.62 ± 1.59	3.82 ± 1.17	6.48 ± 1.96	14.94 ± 3.44	67.88 ± 5.65
	Significance ^b	P = 0.732	P = 0.792	P = 0.557	P = 0.573	P = 0.025
Number of siblings	N/A	4.87 ± 1.35	3.12 ± 1.64	7.12 ± 1.45	15.12 ± 4.05	67.12 ± 4.79
	1 sibling	4.67 ± 1.36	3.74 ± 1.17	6.49 ± 2.29	14.91 ± 3.41	65.31 ± 5.47
	2-3 siblings	4.95 ± 1.21	3.76 ± 1.36	6.06 ± 2.56	14.79 ± 3.77	67.37 ± 5.07
	≥ 4 siblings	4.62 ± 1.46	3.58 ± 1.34	5.89 ± 2.31	14.11 ± 3.79	67.25 ± 4.38
	Significance ^b	P = 0.320	P = 0.415	P = 0.142	P = 0.257	P = 0.011
Income status	Income less than expense	5.08 ± 1.11	3.64 ± 1.18	6.05 ± 2.43	14.78 ± 3.51	66.27 ± 4.35
	Income equal to expense	4.70 ± 1.37	3.60 ± 1.38	6.08 ± 2.39	14.39 ± 3.76	66.89 ± 5.04
	Income more than expense	4.51 ± 1.63	3.97 ± 0.96	6.20 ± 2.17	14.69 ± 3.62	66.93 ± 4.13
	Significance ^b	P = 0.161	P = 0.179	P = 0.941	P = 0.751	P = 0.756
Monthly allowance	Under 1000 ₺	4.65 ± 1.39	3.66 ± 1.33	6.05 ± 2.34	14.38 ± 3.71	67.01 ± 4.56
	1000-2000 ₺	5.09 ± 1.08	3.76 ± 1.13	6.61 ± 2.26	115.48 ± 3.30	65.98 ± 6.40
	Above 2000 ₺	4.65 ± 1.84	3.20 ± 1.43	5.35 ± 2.70	13.20 ± 4.40	66.30 ± 4.85
	Significance ^b	P = 0.109.	P = 0.249	P = 0.101	P = 0.041	P = 0.321
Region lived	Mediterranean Region	4.65 ± 1.44	3.67 ± 1.23	6.26 ± 2.16	14.59 ± 3.56	66.70 ± 4.95
	Aegean Region	4.90 ± 1.24	3.60 ± 1.27	6.36 ± 2.23	14.86 ± 2.86	64.66 ± 3.67
	Central Anatolia Region	4.73 ± 1.34	3.69 ± 1.36	5.77 ± 2.69	14.21 ± 3.92	67.27 ± 4.73
	Black Sea Region	5.88 ± 0.33	3.88 ± 1.16	7.77 ± 1.09	17.55 ± 1.66	66.44 ± 5.61
	Eastern/Southeastern Anatolia Region	4.65 ± 1.38	3.55 ± 1.49	5.75 ± 2.51	13.96 ± 4.13	67.53 ± 4.94
	Significance ^b	P = 0.109	P = 0.920	P = 0.060	P = 0.068	P = 0.073
Place of residence	Province	4.67 ± 1.31	3.58 ± 1.32	6.11 ± 2.29	14.38 ± 3.61	66.53 ± 4.83
	District	4.85 ± 1.43	3.73 ± 1.33	6.10 ± 2.52	14.70 ± 3.84	67.02 ± 4.86
	Rural	4.60 ± 1.56	3.74 ± 1.27	5.98 ± 2.35	14.32 ± 3.88	67.63 ± 4.95
	Significance ^b	P = 0.441	P = 0.551	p = 0.924	P = 0.737	P = 0.273
Home residents	Parents	4.74 ± 1.33	3.64 ± 1.31	6.08 ± 2.34	14.47 ± 3.67	66.86 ± 4.88
	Mother	4.42 ± 1.62	4.00 ± 1.10	7.00 ± 1.59	15.42 ± 2.93	66.36 ± 3.78
	Father	4.50 ± 2.07	4.12 ± 1.12	7.12 ± 1.55	15.75 ± 4.13	65.75 ± 3.15
	Family elders	4.64 ± 1.76	3.17 ± 1.59	4.76 ± 3.23	12.58 ± 4.70	67.35 ± 6.37
	Significance ^b	P = 0.752	P = 0.208	P = 0.021	P = 0.087	P = 0.856

	$\bar{X}$	SD	Min-Max received
Total SRHSSYW	14.46	3.71	0-20
Accepted Stigmatization	4.71	1.38	0-6
Internalized Stigmatization	3.65	1.31	0-5
Stigma-based Attitudes	6.09	2.36	0-9
Total PGS	66.83	4.86	25-125

	1	2	3	4
1 SRHSSYW Total	r P
2 Accepted Stigma	r P	0.620^ 0.001**
3 Internal Stigma	r P	0.848^ 0.001**	0.261^ 0.001**
4 Stigma-based Attitudes	r P	0.646^ 0.001**	0.228^ 0.001**	0.324^ 0.001**
5 PGS Total	r P	−0.173^ 0.001**	−0.135^ 0.008**	−0.181^ 0.001**	−0.021 0.678

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[1] Address for correspondence: Filiz Polat Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Health Sciences, Osmaniye Korkut Ata University Karacaoğlan Campus D-Block Floor: 2 No: D1-125. Osmaniye/Turkey GSM: 0 505 728 44 55— Fax: 0(328) 825 00 97 E-mail: filizmermer@yahoo.com