Table 1 Indicators of reproductive health literacy and number of questionnaire items in each ability factor for unmarried youth in three health domains

Accessing

1. Access to knowledge of AIDS and relevant national policy and regulation

2. Access to information on promoting reproductive health

3. Access to information about gender identity and sexual orientation

3

1. Acquire information about unprotected sexual behaviour

2. Acquire knowledge about adolescent health care (e.g. weight control, sleep, menstrual care)

3. Acquire information on the health hazards of sexual assault and how to prevent sexual assault

3

1. Acquire medical information on safe abortion via good sources

2. Acquire information on medical institutions about AIDS and HIV testing

3. Acquire information about how to get free contraceptives

4. Acquire knowledge about clinical symptoms of sexually transmitted diseases, methods for prevention and medical institutions

5. Acquire information about the prevention and treatment institutions for adolescent sexual health problems

7

Understanding

1. Understand sexual development events and their meaning

2. Understand how to distinguish the differences between friendship, love and infatuation when getting along with others, and understand the responsibility and ethics of marriage and family

4

1. Understand the risk factors for sextual behaviour of being affected AIDS (unprotected sextual activity with multiple partners)

2. Understand the health hazards of unprotected sextual activity before marriage

3. Understand that the unhealthy lifestyle is a risk factor for amenorrhea and menstrual disorders

4. Understand the concept of unprotected sex

5. Understand the high-risk situations or scenarios of sexual assault and that the perpetrator may be an acquaintance

6

1. Understand the basic concepts and transmission routes of AIDS and be aware of the asymptomatic incubation period

2. Understand the basic concepts and symptoms of women's menstrual problems (abnormal menstruation, dysmenorrhea)

3. Understand the dual-protective effects of condoms (contraception and avoiding sexually transmitted diseases)

4. Understand the hazards of abortion and repetitive miscarriage

5. Understand the basic manifestations of abnormal male external genitalia (foreskin and phimosis)

6. Understand the main symptoms of sexually transmitted infections

7. Understand the scenarios in which it is possible to become pregnant

8. Understand the meaning of HIV test results and the window period of AIDS

9. Understand the basic concepts of puberty stunting

13

Appraising

1. Analyse and evaluate risk factors of adolescent reproductive health from the media consciously

2. Be able to identify all kinds of unhealthy information and establish a positive, healthy and responsible sexual mores

2

Be able to analyse possible scenarios of unprotected sexual behaviour of young people

1

1. Be able to care about puberty development, communicate in time, and take the initiative in seeking help when in doubt

2. Be able to distinguish the information on managing unintended pregnancy in media

3. Do NOT discriminate against AIDS patients or HIV-infected

4. Be able to judge the reliability of AIDS information consciously

4

Applying

Be able to communicate with professional counselors and doctors rather than blindly defining yourself, when confused about your sexual orientation or gender identity

1

1. Understand how to protect yourself and partner during sex

2. Dare to refuse and take appropriate measures to protect yourself when you are sexually assaulted or harassed

3. Be able to retain evidence (not bathing immediately) and seek social and medical help in time after being sexually assaulted

4. Be able to avoid exposures to high-risk situations of being sexual assaulted

5. Manage to avoid unprotected sex before marriage and make healthy decisions

7

1. Be able to detect menstrual abnormalities in time and be willing to seek medical help

2. Be able to detect genital inflammation in time and seek medical help

3. Go to a regular hospital for examination and treatment if suspect pregnant

4. Manage to detect the symptoms of sexually transmitted infections in time and seek medical help

5. Voluntarily counsel and test for AIDS if suspect infection

6. Be able to detect delayed puberty in time and be willing to seek medical help

7