[Knowledge about AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases among adolescents].

OBJECTIVE

To determine knowledge about AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases (STD) among school adolescent in order to define their lacks, and those aspects to include in programs of health education.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Secondary schools from Córdoba.

PARTICIPANTS

893 teen students. Stratified random sample.

MAIN MEASUREMENTS

Anonymous self administered survey. Dates related with knowledge about AISD, STD and its mechanism of transmission.

MAIN RESULTS

The mean age of the sample was 17.16 years (95% CI, 17.05-17.26) and 48% was men. 56.7% (95% CI, 53.46-59.94) recognize to be very informed about AIDS and STD, finding significant differences among public (58.9%) and private schools (51.6%) (P=.045). About AIDS, the mean of successes was 8.81 (95% CI, 8.69-8.92; limits 0-12), finding positive differences among men (P=.048); older students (P=.003); public schools (P=.025), and the students non believers (P=.021). About STD, the mean of successes was of 2.47 (95% CI, 2.35-2.78; limits 0-12), with significant differences among women (P=.045); older students (P=.001) and public schools (P=.001). About AIDS sexual transmission, the mean of successes was of 13 (95% CI, 12.87-13.12; limits 0-16), without differences between sex, classrooms or type of schools.

CONCLUSIONS

Level of knowledge shown by adolescents for aspects related to STD is poor. Likewise, the information about AIDS can be consider as enough, being men those that to present a bigger degree of knowledge.