Factors affecting reproductive health promotion behavior among late adolescent girls in South Korea: A cross-sectional descriptive study

Abstract This study was conducted on the basis of the theory of planned behavior to identify factors affecting reproductive health-promoting behaviors among late adolescent girls in South Korea. This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted using the theory of the planned behavior model and included 153 late-adolescent girls aged between 19 and 24 years from 13 Korean universities. We investigated the factors affecting reproductive health-promoting behaviors. A hierarchical regression analysis was used to predict behavior and intention. We found that sexual autonomy influenced reproductive health-promoting behaviors. Meaningful variables that influenced the intention of reproductive health promoting-behaviors were attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control. These findings suggest that as societal views toward sexual matters become more progressive, the reproductive health of women can be supported and improved by emphasizing sexual autonomy in sexual education, as defined by the theory of planned behavior and reproductive health promotion behavior.