1. What they think and what they know
Authors: Shahrzad Rahimi-Naghani, Mahnaz Motamedi
Presented by: Nasrin Eizadyar
What they think and what they know
Attitudes and Awareness towards Sexual Reproductive Health in contemporary Tehran (March May 2015)

2. What they think and what they know: attitudes and awareness towards sexual reproductive health in contemporary Tehran (March May 2015) Shahrzad Rahimi-Naghani, Mahnaz Motamedi
background
Sexual health programs in Iran are tailored for married people and limited to contraceptives, prenatal care, pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding1.
Educational services in the field of sexual health are not provided in government centers1.
A significant population of Iranian youth is involved in premarital sex (10-15% females, 20% males) 2.
Majority of sexually experienced youth have high-risk sex with multiple partners and condom usage is inconsistent3.

3. What they think and what they know: attitudes and awareness towards sexual reproductive health in contemporary Tehran (March May 2015) Shahrzad Rahimi-Naghani, Mahnaz Motamedi
background
Previous studies have focused on adolescents (15-18 years) and young people (18-24 years) – there is little information about the sexual health of adults in Iran.
A vacuum exists in terms of work done on sexual and reproductive health (SRH) in Iran.

4. What they think and what they know: attitudes and awareness towards sexual reproductive health in contemporary Tehran (March May 2015) Shahrzad Rahimi-Naghani, Mahnaz Motamedi
objectives
Two studies focusing on sexuality were conducted, with the aim to:
Assess sexual and reproductive health knowledge among men and women aged between years in metropolitan Tehran
Explore potential associations between classifications of sexual and reproductive health knowledge with age, gender, education and/or marital status
Explore potential associations between sexual attitudes with age, gender, education, religiosity and/or marital status

5. What they think and what they know: attitudes and awareness towards sexual reproductive health in contemporary Tehran (March May 2015) Shahrzad Rahimi-Naghani, Mahnaz Motamedi
Methods
A cross-sectional, descriptive study of 755 participants (411 females and 344 males) between years, residents of Tehran (mean: 29.4)
Multi-stage cluster random sampling
WHO Illustrative questionnaire4 adapted in June 2014
Clearance from the ethics review board of Tehran Medical University and Isfahan University of Medical Science were obtained

6. What they think and what they know: attitudes and awareness towards sexual reproductive health in contemporary Tehran (March May 2015) Shahrzad Rahimi-Naghani, Mahnaz Motamedi
Methods
Multi stage cluster random sampling from different regions of Tehran

7. What they think and what they know: attitudes and awareness towards sexual reproductive health in contemporary Tehran (March May 2015) Shahrzad Rahimi-Naghani, Mahnaz Motamedi
Measures
Two points scale was considered for each SRH knowledge question
The correct answer to each item
Vague answer and wrong answer
Total SRH knowledge scores could range from a Minimum of 26 and Maximum of 52
physiology knowledge ranged from 3 to 6
contraception knowledge ranged from 11 to 22
HIV/STIs knowledge ranged from 7 to 14
condom knowledge ranged from 5-10
Scored 2
Scored 1

8. What they think and what they know: attitudes and awareness towards sexual reproductive health in contemporary Tehran (March May 2015) Shahrzad Rahimi-Naghani, Mahnaz Motamedi
Measures
Each item of attitude of sexual permissiveness was measured by three-point Likert scale Agree scored 3 Not sure scored 2 Disagree scored 1 The score of attitude scale ranged from between 9 – 27 Higher score accepting of pre-marital sex – classified as ‘liberal attitude’ Lower score against pre-marital sex – classified as ‘conservative attitude’ Intermediate score no definite view on pre-marital sex – classified as ‘not very conservative attitude’

9. What they think and what they know: attitudes and awareness towards sexual reproductive health in contemporary Tehran (March May 2015) Shahrzad Rahimi-Naghani, Mahnaz Motamedi
Results (summary)
Women, younger people and ever-married people had more SRH health knowledge
Levels of education had no impact on SRH knowledge
older, ever-married & more religious respondents were less accepting of sexual/nonsexual interactions and had more conditions for any such interactions
men (81%) and women (82%) were supportive of dating before marriage, with no gender difference.
Males (69%) were open to non-sexual, tactile interactions, than females (50.5%).

10. What they think and what they know: attitudes and awareness towards sexual reproductive health in contemporary Tehran (March May 2015) Shahrzad Rahimi-Naghani, Mahnaz Motamedi
Results
Mean Scores of Attitudes toward Sexual Permissiveness by Selected Social and Demographic characteristic

11. results Marital status vs attitude Religosity vs. attitude
What they think and what they know: attitudes and awareness towards sexual reproductive health in contemporary Tehran (March May 2015) Shahrzad Rahimi-Naghani, Mahnaz Motamedi
results
Mean Scores of Attitudes toward Sexual Permissiveness by Selected Social and Demographic characteristic
Marital status vs attitude
Religosity vs. attitude

12. What they think and what they know: attitudes and awareness towards sexual reproductive health in contemporary Tehran (March May 2015) Shahrzad Rahimi-Naghani, Mahnaz Motamedi
results
Comparison of mean score knowledge in different domain by selected socio- demographic factors

13. What they think and what they know: attitudes and awareness towards sexual reproductive health in contemporary Tehran (March May 2015) Shahrzad Rahimi-Naghani, Mahnaz Motamedi
Results
Mean Scores of knowledge toward Sexual reproductive health Selected Social and Demographic characteristic

14. What they think and what they know: attitudes and awareness towards sexual reproductive health in contemporary Tehran (March May 2015) Shahrzad Rahimi-Naghani, Mahnaz Motamedi
conclusion
Research confirmed conventional wisdom in some ways, but upturned it in others:
Identified a growing need for disseminating evidence-based sexual knowledge to diminish misconceptions among all age groups, regardless of marital status
It was shown that both society and culture reinforce behaviors; therefore, mixed method studies and qualitative exploration is recommended (mapping practices)
As it showed the need for providing SRH training to both genders within the educational curriculum.

15. What they think and what they know: attitudes and awareness towards sexual reproductive health in contemporary Tehran (March May 2015) Shahrzad Rahimi-Naghani, Mahnaz Motamedi
Acknowledgments
We are highly obliged to thank all the staff of the Institute of International Health and Tropical Medicine in Charite- Universitätmedizin, Berlin, for their continuous assistance in my endeavors. Our special thanks to the participants who shared their private sexual matters with us. Also, I would like to express my gratitude to Dr. Safieh Shah for helping me to prepare the abstract and OP for this event.

16. What they think and what they know: attitudes and awareness towards sexual reproductive health in contemporary Tehran (March May 2015) Shahrzad Rahimi-Naghani, Mahnaz Motamedi
Thank you!

17. What they think and what they know: attitudes and awareness towards sexual reproductive health in contemporary Tehran (March May 2015) Shahrzad Rahimi-Naghani, Mahnaz Motamedi
References
1. Khoei E, Whelan A, Cohen J. Sharing beliefs: What sexuality means to Muslim Iranian women living in Australia. Culture, Health & Sexuality. 2008;10(3): Khalajabadi Farahani FCleland J. Perceived norms of premarital heterosexual relationships and sexuality among female college students in Tehran. Culture, Health & Sexuality. 2015;17(6): Mohammad K, Farahani F, Mohammadi M, Alikhani S, Zare M, Tehrani F et al. Sexual Risk-Taking Behaviors among Boys Aged 15–18 Years in Tehran. Journal of Adolescent Health. 2007;41(4): Asking young people about sexual and reproductive behaviours: Illustrative Core Instruments. John Cleland, Roger Ingham, Nicole Stone. 2001