Sexual Health Literacy and Knowledge Gained Through Podcast Education by University Students in Türkiye

Background: In countries such as Türkiye, university and college students often have limited access to structured forms of sexual health education, which may lead to inadequate knowledge and literacy regarding sex and sexuality. Digital tools such as podcasts offer a flexible and engaging platform that may improve sexual health outcomes. Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of podcast-based education on sexual health knowledge and functional sexual health literacy among university students. Setting: The study was conducted at a state university in Istanbul and involved on-campus participant recruitment and intervention together with follow-up study using WhatsApp. Methods: A quasi-experimental pretest–posttest control group study was conducted between October and December 2024. Students from non-health sciences faculties were assigned to Podcast (G1: n = 40), Brochure (G2: n = 41), and Control (G3: n = 44) groups. G1 received four podcast sessions, G2 received brochures with the same content, and G3 received no intervention. Data were collected via a Student Information Form, a Sexual Health Knowledge Test (SHKT), and Sexual Health Literacy Scale (SHLS) at baseline, and at 4 and 8 weeks post-intervention. Results: For SHLS, significant time, group, and time × group effects were observed, with a significant increase over time occurring only in G1. Intergroup comparisons showed that G1 scored significantly higher than G2 and G3 at the first measurement and higher than G3 at the second measurement. For SHKT, the main effect of time was not significant, whereas significant group and time × group effects were found. Intergroup comparisons indicated that G1 had significantly higher SHKT scores than G3 at the first measurement and higher scores than both G2 and G3 at the second measurement. No significant within-group changes over time were observed on the SHKT. Conclusion: Podcast-based education was associated with short-term improvements in sexual health knowledge and functional sexual health literacy among university students. Incorporating interactive and regularly updated digital programmes may further enhance the efficacy and accessibility of sexual health education.