SEXUALITY AND ADOLESCENTS – WHAT THEY KNOW AND WHAT INTERESTS THEM
Abstract
Background. Adolescents often decide on sexual intercourse without previous knowledge of negative consequences of sexuality. The intension of our lectures is therefore to inform the young and to advise them on how to protect themselves from these consequences. The information on the amount of knowledge of sexuality that adolescents have, and what interests them most, can be provided by a survey only. Thus, the survey serves as the basis for preparation of the lecture that focuses on the topics that adolescents are less familiar with and/or are most interested in. The adolescents are more eager to listen to the lecture that they helped create.
Methods. The questionnaire was filled-in by 222 adolescents who attended lectures on sexuality in the school year 2002/3, 121 girls (mean age 14.47 ± 1.12 years) and 101 boys (mean age 14.55 ± 1.31 years); 18 (17.8%) boys and 10 (8.3%) girls were sexually active.
Results. In boys the mean age at the first sexual intercourse was 15.1 ± 1.5 years, they had mean 2.0 ± 2.4 sexual partners. In girls the mean age at the first sexual intercourse was 14.5 ± 1.1 years, they had mean 4.6 ± 4.3 sexual partners. The first sexual intercourse was unprotected in 4 (22.2%) boys and in 5 (50.0%) girls. Only 8 (7.9%) boys and 24 (19.8%) girls enumerated 5 contraceptive methods, 8 (7.9%) boys and 23 (19.0%) girls were familiar with at least 3 sexually transmitted diseases. Major sources of information on sexuality for boys were school, television and parents, and for girls school, parents and books. The most frequently asked question by both boys and girls was, ‘When is the right time for the first sexual intercourse?’ Almost one half of respondents, 49 (48.5%) boys and 51 (42.1%) girls agreed that sexuality is sufficiently discussed.
Conclusions. Adolescents can participate in the creation of lectures on sexuality by completing a previously prepared questionnaire. These lectures are an imperative as in adolescents the level of knowledge of consequences of irresponsible sexual behaviour is low. Although the girls’ knowledge of sexuality, contraception and sexually transmitted diseases is somewhat greater than the boys’, their sexual behaviour is more risky than in boys.
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References
Archer SL. Gender differences in identity development. J Adol 1989; 12: Suppl 2.
Choquet M, Manfred R. Sexual intercourse, contraception and risk-taking behaviour among unselected French adolescent aged 11–20 years. J Adolesc Health 1992; 13: 623–30.
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