Knowledge and attitudes of high school students about sexually transmitted diseases

Introduction: Sexually transmitted infections represent a public health problem of great importance in most parts of the world. Research goal: The primary aim is determine the sexual activity, attitudes and knowledge of high school students about sexually transmitted diseases. Method: The research conducted is the type of study section. In December, 113 students from first to fourth grade from High School Center Foca were surveyed. In the study used an anonymous questionnaire character. The questionnaire in this research was anonymous. Results: 35.4% of respondents were sexually active. The young men were sexually much more active than girls (χ2 = 30,447; p = 0.001). Most sexually active students said that they had their first sexual intercourse at age 15 (50%%). The boys and girls have diametrically opposed attitudes regarding age in which they find it is the optimal time for their sexual activities (χ2 = 20,252; p = 0.001). Students of the third and fourth grade have a much higher level of knowledge compared to the students of the first and second grade (χ2 = 31,791; p = 0.001). Most students would continue to associate with a person even if that person has one of the sexually transmitted diseases (64.6%). Conclusion: The results of this study show that sexual activity of adolescents surveyed is not a mass phenomenon, but that knowledge of students of first and second grades was insufficient, and that there is a need for education of this target group, considering the importance of preserving reproductive health of adolescents, who are the future of preserving population.