Reproductive health encompasses the physical, psychological, and social well-being related to the reproductive system. Reproductive health education is crucial for fostering awareness, knowledge, and responsible behaviors concerning one’s body, sexuality, and reproductive rights. While it is ideal to initiate reproductive health education in early adolescence, this study aimed to investigate the perceived need for such education among university students.

A specifically designed questionnaire was administered to assess the knowledge and needs of 342 students (289 females, 53 males) from the Faculty of Philosophy in Niš, Serbia, aged 18 to 36 years (M = 21.51, SD = 3.28). Results revealed that 27.5% of respondents considered themselves sufficiently informed about reproductive health, 15.8% acknowledged a knowledge deficit, and 56.7% perceived their understanding as basic and in need of improvement. Although no significant gender differences were found in terms of awareness and understanding of basic reproductive health concepts, females were more likely to consult healthcare professionals regarding reproductive health compared to males (t(340) = -2.74, p = .006). Additionally, urban residents reported a higher level of reproductive health knowledge than those from rural and semi-urban areas (F(2) = 4.157, p = .016). Correlation analysis indicated a positive association between perceived economic status and reproductive health knowledge (r = .139, p = .010).

A substantial majority of respondents (93.3%) expressed the need for reproductive health education at the university level, with 72.2% indicating a willingness to participate. Notably, 71.9% of respondents had not previously received any reproductive health education.

Regarding preferred formats for such education, 47.7% of respondents favored integration into the regular university curriculum, while 46.8% preferred workshops and interactive sessions. Additionally, 36.3% considered informational materials like posters and brochures to be sufficient. Most students expressed interest in a variety of reproductive health topics, including sexually transmitted infections (75.1%), infertility treatment (63.2%), contraception methods, prevention of unwanted pregnancy, and attitudes toward sexuality and sexual rights (approximately 50%).

The findings underscore the need for reproductive health education among university students. These results can inform the development of targeted reproductive health programs tailored to the specific needs and preferences of university students. In addition to benefiting students, reproductive health education in universities would have broader societal implications by contributing to improved public health and potentially reducing healthcare costs.

Acknowledgement:
This work was supported by the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia, #GRANT No 1568, Identity Crisis in Women Facing Infertility: Mixed Methods Approach – InsideMe.

Keywords: Reproductive health, university students, education, public health.