Published November 27, 2025 | Version v1
Journal article Open

Reproductive competence of female students: an interdisciplinary framework for health, education, and demographic sustainability

Authors/Creators

  • 1. PHEI "Dnipro Technological University "STEP"", Dnipro, Ukraine
  • 2. National University Zaporizhzhia Polytechnic, Zaporizhzhia , Ukraine
  • 3. MIHE "Khortytsia National Educational and Rehabilitational Academy" of Zaporizhzhia Regional Council, Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine

Description

Women’s reproductive health in the 21st century is influenced by demographic transitions, psycho-emotional stressors, and digital transformations in higher education. Despite progress in sexual and reproductive health and rights, substantial gaps remain in female students’ knowledge, access to services, and responsible decision-making.
The objective: to conceptualize the phenomenon of reproductive competence of female students as a multidimensional construct that integrates cognitive, bodily, emotional, social, and digital dimensions.
Materials and methods. A mixed design was used: a three-round Delphi survey with 100 experts (sexual and reproductive health and rights, psychology, pedagogy, demography) and a cross-sectional online survey among 1,216 female students (18–29 years, seven Ukrainian universities). The authorial questionnaire included 30 items across five components and the 4-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-4). Reliability was confirmed using Cronbach’s α and McDonald’s ω (range 0.79–0.82), and construct vali-
dity was supported. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, Spearman’s correlations, and Mann–Whitney U tests.
Results. The Delphi panel confirmed the relevance of all components, prioritizing cognitive, social, and digital ones for higher education. The student survey revealed knowledge gaps (52.8% of persons identified risks of delayed motherhood), bodily and emotional vulnerabilities (63.5% – dysmenorrheal, 58.9% – high stress), barriers due to stigma (32.0% persons avoided services), and ambivalence in digital use (71.1% of students used apps, but only 34.6% of students critically assessed sources).
Conclusions. Reproductive competence consists of cognitive, physical, emotional, social and digital components and acts as an individual resource of resilience and an institutional framework of support for female students. Universities are identified as key agents in fostering reproductive literacy, psycho-educational programs, digital hygiene, and stigma reduction, with implications for women’s health and demographic sustainability.

Notes

https://repro-health.com.ua/article/view/349095

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