Awareness on sexual health and the use of pornography among undergraduates of the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka

Abstract

Background: Awareness on sexual health has been a topic of controversy in Sri Lanka. With the increasing use of the internet among university students it is important to find whether pornography consumption has a link to filling the gap in awareness. Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 426 undergraduates representing all six faculties of the University of Kelaniya in November 2024. A self-directed questionnaire including the Sexual Health Awareness Scale (SHAS) and Consumption of Pornography Scale - General (COPS - G) was used. Results: The mean awareness score using SHAS for 426 students was 166.13. More than half of students (51.2%, n=218) had less than the mean score. Although high level of sexual health awareness has been considered as a score between 177 and 240, only 14.8% (n=63) of students have scored above 177. Faculty of Medicine students had the highest mean awareness score of 173.58 while the lowest was recorded from Faculty of Computing and Technology as 158.00. Pornography consumption with COPS - G, resulted highest mean in the Faculty of Computing and Technology (36.54), followed by Faculty of Science (29.86). Pornography consumption mean scores of males and females were 37.26 and 13.63 respectively. A statistically significant association (P=0.006) was found between having lower sexual health awareness and higher consumption of pornography. Conclusions: Sexual health awareness among university students indicates that the majority (85.2%, n=363) have average knowledge. Although pornography consumption is common among students, its impact on awareness and attitudes on sexual health is complex. The study highlights the need of further exploration of this area.