Knowledge, experience, and utilisation of sexual and reproductive health services amongst Nepalese youth living in the Kathmandu Valley.
OBJECTIVE
Youth have the right to utilise sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services and information to protect themselves from negative SRH outcomes. This study aimed to assess knowledge, experience and use of SRH services amongst youth living in urban areas of the Kathmandu Valley.


METHODS
We conducted a two stage cluster sampling cross-sectional household survey of young men and women aged 15-24 living in the Kathmandu Valley using a structured questionnaire.


RESULTS
Amongst the 680 young men and 720 young women participants, less than two-thirds had knowledge about the fertile period and less than a half about pregnancy risk at first sex. Over three quarters of young men and women had knowledge of condoms, and pills but less than half knew about implants or intrauterine devices. Age at first sex was similar for men and women but women were significantly less likely to have participated willingly in their first sexual encounter and were less likely to have used any contraception (for both p < 0.001). Almost all men and women (97.9%) had heard of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) but only 8% had heard about the most common STI, Chlamydia. Over 90% of youth reported feelings of shame as the major barrier to accessing SRH services.


CONCLUSIONS
Gaps exist between youth SRH knowledge and practices which leave them vulnerable to sexual ill health. This may indicate a lack of confidence in SRH services but also likely reflects the cultural and religious environment that hampers open expression of sexual and reproductive issues, particularly for young women.
Discipline of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Neonatology, University of Sydney, Camperdown, 2050 NSW, Australia.
Laxmi
L
Tamang
Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, 2006, Australia.
Camille
C
Raynes-Greenow
Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, 2006, Australia.
Kevin
K
McGeechan
Discipline of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Neonatology, University of Sydney, Camperdown, 2050 NSW, Australia. Electronic address: Kirsten.black@sydney.edu.au.
Kirsten I
KI
Black
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003267:Contraception; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003469:Culture; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009390:Nepal; D060728:Reproductive Health; D034121:Reproductive Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D063507:Sexism; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases; D012752:Shame; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population; D055815:Young Adult
Health services; Nepal; Reproductive health; Sexual health; Youth