ObjectiveTo evaluate the current status of sexual and reproductive health knowledge and behavior of young migrant workers in Shanghai, which would provide information for the development of intervention measures.

MethodsA cluster random sampling with self-filled questionnaires was used for survey in two factories of Shanghai.The total number of young migrant workers surveyed was 713.The questionnaire contents included socioeconomic characters, knowledge, attitude and behavior of sex and reproductive health.

ResultsThere were 428 males and 285 females ranged from 17 to 24 years old.Eighty-eight percent of them were from rural area of China, and 79.7% of them were unmarried.Their awareness of sexual and reproductive health was low, including misunderstandings of sexually transmitted diseases and HIV transmission pathways, and failure to realize the difference between condom and contraceptive pills.Only 46.5% of the males and 31.5% of the females answered correctly about the role of contraceptive pills.Their sexual attitude was open on premarital sex and cohabitation.Males were more tolerant than women; 59.1% of the males thought they could have sex before marriage if they got consent, which was much higher than females (39.6%, P < 0.01).While the rate of premarital sex was high (64.0% in males and 56.1% in females), sexual safety awareness was not strong.The rate of condom use was only 20%, and 12.4% of the females had unwilling pregnancy and abortion.

ConclusionThe sexual and reproductive health status in young migrant workers need to be improved by strengthening health education and health promotion.