[Sexual initiation and use of condoms and other methods of contraception among 15-year-old adolescents in Poland and other countries].

PRESENTATION

(1) Frequency of sexual initiation and use of condoms and other methods of contraception among 15-year old adolescents in Poland and other countries in 2001/2002; (2) Trends of change in these sexual behaviours in Poland between 1990-2002.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

Representative samples of adolescents in Poland (mean age 15.7 years) in 1990 (N=1548), 1994 (N=1540), 1998 (N=1638) and 2002 (N=2152) and in other 28 countries (mean age 15.2 - 16.1 years) in 2001/2002, were used. The surveys were carried out in the frame of Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children; a WHO Collaborative Cross-National Study (HBSC), according to an international research protocol. An international standard questionnaire (anonymous) was chosen as an instrument for data collection. It contained four questions concerning sexual behaviour.

RESULTS

In Poland, 2002, 20.9% of boys and 9.2% of girls reported sexual intercourse with mean ages respectively 14.1 and 14.7 years. The frequency of sexual initiation was higher (in boys) and the mean age was lower among adolescents living in towns by comparison to those living in cities. More matured adolescents had earlier sexual initiations. 27% of sexually active adolescents reported that either they or their partners had used any methods of contraception during their last sexual encounter. This risk sexual behaviour was more frequent in than cities (respectively: in boys 30.2% and 23.9%; in girls 42.9% and 19.7%). The most common method used was a condom. Between 1990-1998, the percentage of adolescents having sex and using some methods of contraception during their encounter last sexual were observed. Between 1998-2002, frequency of sexual initiation decreased, whereas percentage of non-users increased. In comparison to other countries increased Poland's percentage of adolescents with early sexual initiation in 2001/2002 was low, but the percentage of non-users of contraceptives was the highest.

CONCLUSIONS

At risk sexual behaviours are relatively common among 15-year-old adolescents, and more frequent among adolescents living in cities. In comparison to other countries, Polish adolescents the risk of unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases is higher. Future monitoring of sexual behaviours is necessary for prevention (including school sexual education) of at risk behaviours.