Version 1
: Received: 3 September 2024 / Approved: 4 September 2024 / Online: 5 September 2024 (04:59:28 CEST)
How to cite:
Abreu, C.; Sá, L.; Santos, P. Adolescents' Knowledge and Misconceptions about Sexually Transmitted Infections: A Cross-Sectional Study in Middle School Students in Portugal. Preprints2024, 2024090336. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202409.0336.v1
Abreu, C.; Sá, L.; Santos, P. Adolescents' Knowledge and Misconceptions about Sexually Transmitted Infections: A Cross-Sectional Study in Middle School Students in Portugal. Preprints 2024, 2024090336. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202409.0336.v1
Abreu, C.; Sá, L.; Santos, P. Adolescents' Knowledge and Misconceptions about Sexually Transmitted Infections: A Cross-Sectional Study in Middle School Students in Portugal. Preprints2024, 2024090336. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202409.0336.v1
APA Style
Abreu, C., Sá, L., & Santos, P. (2024). Adolescents' Knowledge and Misconceptions about Sexually Transmitted Infections: A Cross-Sectional Study in Middle School Students in Portugal. Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202409.0336.v1
Chicago/Turabian Style
Abreu, C., Luísa Sá and Paulo Santos. 2024 "Adolescents' Knowledge and Misconceptions about Sexually Transmitted Infections: A Cross-Sectional Study in Middle School Students in Portugal" Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202409.0336.v1
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Adolescence represents a period of heightened vulnerability to risky sexual behaviours. In Portugal, adolescents are initiating sexual activity at increasingly younger ages. Yet, there are no studies evaluating their knowledge about sexually transmitted diseases and prevention methods at an earlier stage of their development. Study how middle school ad-olescents define their sexuality and assess their level of information regarding sexuality, STI, and prevention methods. Additionally, it explores adolescents' sources of information on sexuali-ty-related issues.
Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted involving the application of a questionnaire to 750 9th-grade students of Vila Nova de Gaia, Porto, Portugal. The questionnaire covered topics such as perceptions of sexuality, knowledge of sexuality and STI, methods of transmission prevention, and sources of information.
Results: The mean age was 14.4 years, with 19.9% reporting having already initiated sexual ac-tivity. Overall, the knowledge about sexually transmitted infections is low, pointing to 7.08 out of a maximum score of 18. Condoms and immunisation are well-recognized preventive measures, but many misconceptions persist. Better knowledge is associated with better attitudes in the likelihood of having sexual intercourse.
Conclusions: This study reveals adolescents' limited sexually transmitted infections knowledge, misconceptions about prevention, and reliance on peers and the internet over trusted sources, highlighting the need for comprehensive sexual education in middle school.
Keywords
Adolescent; Sexuality; Sexually Transmitted Diseases; Sex Education; Health Education
Subject
Medicine and Pharmacology, Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
