TITLE:
Sexually Transmitted Infections Prevention across Educational Stages: Comparing Middle, High School and University Students in Portugal
AUTHORS:
Lúcia Ramiro, Marta Reis, Margarida Gaspar de Matos, José Alves Diniz, Virginie Ehlinger, Emmanuelle Godeau
KEYWORDS:
STI, Knowledge, Attitudes, Sexual Risk Behaviors, Sex Education Classes
JOURNAL NAME:
Creative Education,
Vol.5 No.15,
August
28,
2014
ABSTRACT: This
study aimed to analyze knowledge, attitudes and sexual risk behaviors related
to sexually transmitted infections and identify if sex education classes can
influence students in middle, high school and university. The sample included
4751 students, mean age 16 years old, attending middle, high school and
university, in Portugal. Data collection was held within the Health Behavior in
School-aged Children and the Sexual and Reproductive Health in University
Students surveys. The rates of students who reported having had sexual
intercourse ranged from 13.2% (middle school) to 75.3% (university). Among
those sexually active, most reported having used condom at first sexual
intercourse and not having had sexual intercourse under the influence of
alcohol or drugs. Their level of knowledge regarding HIV/AIDS transmission was
average and the level of positive attitudes towards HIV infected people and
condoms was good. Students that reported having had sex education classes
showed more accurate knowledge and fewer sexual risky behaviors. University
students demonstrated more knowledge and more positive attitudes but fewer
preventive sexual behaviors, which may suggest that protective behaviors are
abandoned over time or that younger generations tend to protect themselves more
than before. Regardless, sex education classes should be implemented before
people become sexually active.