Conocimientos, actitudes y prácticas sobre derechos sexuales y reproductivos en estudiantes del Campus Central de la Universidad de Panamá.

[Knowledge, attitudes and practices on sexual and reproductive rights in students of the Central Campus of the University of Panama.] Resumen Objetivo: Evaluar los conocimientos, actitudes y practicas sobre derechos sexuales y reproductivos (DSR) en estudiantes del Campus Central de la Universidad de Panama. Material y metodo: Los datos se recolectaron en abril de 2017 mediante una encuesta anonima y auto-aplicada en una muestra de 615 estudiantes. Se obtuvo una medida de logro en DSR con el promedio simple de las medidas de logro en conocimientos, actitudes y practicas. Las pruebas de significancia estadistica se realizaron con intervalo de confianza del 95%. Resultado: El porcentaje de estudiantes que conocia sobre DSR fue 16.1, significativamente mayor (p<0.05) en autodefinidos como mestizos (20.1%). Se observaron actitudes favorables hacia los DSR en 84.0% del estudiantado, siendo mayor (p<0.05) en quienes vivian sin sus padres (88.6%); en hogares no pobres (87.5%); que no tenian hijos (84.9%); y que asistian a la universidad en el turno diurno (85.9%). La medida de logro en practicas fue 14.1%, mayor (p<0.05) en estudiantes adultos (22.8%), no pobres (18.7%) y de Arquitectura (22.1%). El logro en DSR resulto 23.2%, significativamente mayor en mestizos (27.4%), no pobres (28.2%) y del area cientifica (30.3%). Solo 12.2% pertenecia a alguna organizacion defensora de los derechos humanos y 21.8% conocia su estado serologico en relacion al VIH. Conclusion: Se encontro un logro bajo en DSR resultado de bajos logros en practicas y conocimientos. Las practicas mas deficientes estaban relacionadas con los derechos a participacion y salud. Se sugiere realizar intervenciones educativas sobre DSR utilizando las capacidades universitarias, y continuar con inves-tigaciones sobre indicadores en DSR. Abstract Objective: To assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices on sexual and reproductive rights (SRR) in students of the Central Campus of the University of Panama. Material and method: Data was collected in April 2017 through an anonymous and self-administered survey in a sample of 615 students. A measure of achievement in SRR is obtained by a simple average of the measures of achievement in knowledge, attitudes and practices. Statistical significance tests were performed with a confidence interval of 95%. Result: Percentage of students who knew about SRR was 16.1, significantly higher (p<0.05) in self-defined as mestizos (20.1%). Favorable attitudes towards SRR were observed in 84.0% of the students, higher (p<0.05) in those who lived without their parents (88.6%); in households non-poor (87.5%); with no children (84.9%); and who were attending the university in the day shift (85.9%). Measure of achievement in practices was 14.1%, higher (p<0.05) in adult students (22.8%), non-poor (18.7%) and from Architecture (22.1%). The achievement in SRR was 23.2%, significantly higher in mestizos (27.4%), non-poor (28.2%) and from scientific area (30.3%). Only 12.2% belonged to some organization defending human rights and 21.8% knew their HIV serological status. Conclusion: Low achievement in SRR was found as a result of low achievements in practices and knowledge. Lowest practices were related to the right to participation and health. It is suggested to carry out educational interventions on SRR using the university capacities, and to continue with research on indicators in SRR.