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RESEARCH ARTICLE

Effect of improving the knowledge, attitude and practice of reproductive health among female migrant workers: a worksite-based intervention in Guangzhou, China

Xue Gao A I , Longchang Xu A I , Ciyong Lu A J , Jie Wu A G , Zhijin Wang A , Peter Decat B , Wei-Hong Zhang B H , Yimin Chen C , Eileen Moyer D , Shizhong Wu E , Meile Minkauskiene F , Dirk Van Braeckel B and Marleen Temmerman B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, NO. 74, Zhongshan II Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, Guangdong Province, China.

B International Centre for Reproductive Health (ICRH), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, De Pintelaan 185 UZ P114, 9000 Ghent, VAT BE 248.015.142, Belgium.

C National Research Institution for Family Planning, NO. 12, Hui temple, Haidian district, Beijing, 100081, China.

D Department of Anthropology, Amsterdam School for Social Science Research, University of Amsterdam, 1001 NA Amsterdam, Postbus 15508, The Netherlands.

E Donghua Research Institute of Reproductive Health in Chengdu, NO.324, Yulindong XVI Road, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610000, China.

F Kaunas University of Medicine, Eiveniu 2, LT-50009, Kaunas, Lithuania.

G Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California, 640 Charles E Young Dr S, Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA.

H School of Public Health, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Route de Lennik, 808, CP 592, 1070, Brussels, Belgium.

I These authors contributed equally to this work.

J Corresponding author. Email: luciyong@mail.sysu.edu.cn

Sexual Health 12(1) 13-21 https://doi.org/10.1071/SH14061
Submitted: 26 March 2014  Accepted: 3 October 2014   Published: 4 December 2014

Abstract

Background: The sexual and reproductive health (SRH) knowledge and attitudes of female migrant workers are far from optimum in China. A worksite-based intervention program on SRH-related knowledge, attitude and practice (SRH KAP) modification may be an effective approach to improve the SRH status among migrant workers. This study aimed to identify better intervention approaches via the implementation and evaluation of two intervention packages. Methods: A worksite-based cluster-randomised intervention study was conducted from June to December 2008 in eight factories in Guangzhou, China. There were 1346 female migrant workers who participated in this study. Factories were randomly allocated to the standard package of interventions group (SPIG) or the intensive package of interventions group (IPIG). Questionnaires were administered to evaluate the effect of two interventions. Results: SRH knowledge scores were higher at follow up than at baseline for all participants of the SPIG; the knowledge scores increased from 6.50 (standard deviation (s.d.) 3.673) to 8.69 (s.d. 4.085), and from 5.98 (s.d. 3.581) to 11.14 (s.d. 3.855) for IPIG; SRH attitude scores increased among unmarried women: the attitude scores changed from 4.25 (s.d. 1.577) to 4.46 (s.d. 1.455) for SPIG, and from 3.99 (s.d. 1.620) to 4.64 (s.d. 1.690) for IPIG; most SRH-related practice was also modified (P < 0.05). In addition, after intervention, the IPIG had a higher knowledge level than the SPIG; the scores were 11.14 (s.d. 3.855) versus 8.69 (s.d. 4.085), and unmarried women in the IPIG had higher condom use rate than the SPIG (86.4% versus 57.1%). Conclusions: The interventions had positive influences on improvements in SRH knowledge, attitudes and behaviours. Additionally, IPIs were more effective than SPIs, indicating that a comprehensive intervention may achieve better results.

Additional keywords: China; female migrant; intervention; sexual and reproductive health; worksite based.


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