مرکز منطقه ای اطلاع رساني علوم و فناوري - Evaluation of levels of gender perception and related factors among first-year students in a medical faculty

Abstract :

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate levels of gender perception and factors relating to this among first-year students in a medical faculty. Materials and Methods: The population of this cross-sectional study consisted of 356 (81%) of the 435 first-year students attending Ege University Faculty of Medicine in the 2013-2014 academic year. Data were collected using the Turkish version of the Gender Equality Scale, which includes 24 items and 2 sub-scales, along with an information form to gather socio-demographic data. Results: Mean total score of students on the Gender Equality Scale was 62.6±5.6. Mean score on the “Traditional Gender Norms” sub-scale was 43.1±5.1 and mean score on the “Equalitarian Gender Norms” sub-scale was 19.6±2.1. Mean total score was 65.3±3.9 for female students and 60.6±5.8 for male students. This difference between the genders regarding gender equality was found to be statistically significant (p 0.001). The mean score of students whose mothers were unemployed or homemakers (61.9 ± 5.8) was significantly lower than that of students with a working mother (63.5±5.3). Mean scores of students whose mother’s and father’s educational level was primary school and below (61.3±5.9 and 59.9±6.2 respectively) were significantly lower than scores of students whose mother’s and father’s educational level was higher than primary school (63.2±5.4 and 63.2±5.4, respectively) (p 0.05 and p 0.05). Conclusion: The results of the present study suggest that attitudes towards gender equality are affected by socio-demographic variables. Medical faculties should add training to the curriculum to reduce differences in levels of perception of gender equality arising from socio-demographic characteristics of students