Sexual and reproductive health literacy of higher education students: a scoping review of determinants, screening tools, and effective interventions

Abstract

Health literacy is a determinant of overall health, particularly among college students who are at increased risk for negative sexual and reproductive health outcomes. Contextualized sexual and reproductive health education serves as an important protective measure for this population. This scoping review examines sexual and reproductive health literacy among college students to identify key determinants, screening tools, and effective interventions. Following the PRISMA-ScR guidelines, a comprehensive systematic search was conducted through PubMed, Embase, and Scopus databases without restrictions to capture all publications related to health literacy of students of higher education from January 2013 to March 2023. Out of 4,526 articles identified in the initial search, 11 studies met the inclusion criteria for this review. Most studies were cross-sectional and conducted in the USA. Sexual and reproductive health literacy was examined as both an outcome, influenced by factors like age, gender, religion, study area, sexual education, birthplace/region, and race/ethnicity, and as an exposure shaping knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding sexual and reproductive health. On the interpersonal level, family influence played a crucial role in shaping sexual and reproductive health literacy. The review also found correlations between health literacy and knowledge, attitudes, and practices, with technology-based interventions. Based on the findings, a conceptual model was developed. Research on sexual and reproductive health literacy remains limited, particularly in sensitive sociocultural contexts. Further studies are needed to explore the impact of sociocultural, religious, and environmental factors on young people's health literacy in order to inform more effective interventions.