Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology, Bremen, Germany.
PLoS One. 2013 Apr 24;8(4):e61636. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0061636. Print 2013.
Chlamydia and genital human papillomavirus (HPV) are the two most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among teens and young adults in industrialised countries. The majority of adolescents, however, have limited or no knowledge of these infections. Within the context of a cross-sectional survey on awareness and knowledge of sexually transmitted infections, secondary school students attending the 8th grade and above in Bremen and Bremerhaven, two cities in northern Germany, were asked to rate the risk of peers to get infected with HIV, HPV or chlamydia.
Between October and December 2011, students aged 12-20 years completed an anonymous, self-administered questionnaire at their school. In addition to answering questions on awareness and knowledge of sexually transmitted infections, all students were also asked to rate the risk of peers to get infected with HIV, HPV or chlamydia. Furthermore, those reporting ever having sexual intercourse were asked to rate their own risk of getting infected with each of the three infections.
1,148 students, 55% female, completed the questionnaire. 27% of the students reported having had sexual intercourse. 68% of all students rated the risk of same-aged students to get infected with HIV/AIDS as high/medium. The corresponding proportions for HPV and chlamydia were 19 and 25% respectively. Those reporting ever having sexual intercourse generally perceived their own risk of getting infected with HIV, chlamydia or HPV as lower than that of their peers.
Generally, the risk of getting infected with HIV was perceived as being higher than that of getting infected with HPV or chlamydia, most likely due to the fact that the students were more aware of HIV than of the other two infections. Efforts should be made to improve awareness and knowledge of HPV and chlamydia among school going adolescents, and to make them realize that these are common infections that are preventable.
衣原体和生殖器人乳头瘤病毒（HPV）是工业化国家青少年和年轻人中最常见的两种性传播感染（STI）。然而，大多数青少年对这些感染的了解有限或没有。在一项关于对性传播感染的认识和知识的横断面调查中，德国北部不来梅和不来梅港的 8 年级及以上的中学生被要求评估同龄人感染艾滋病毒、HPV 或衣原体的风险。
在 2011 年 10 月至 12 月期间，12-20 岁的学生在学校完成了匿名的自我管理问卷。除了回答关于性传播感染的认识和知识的问题外，所有学生还被要求评估同龄人感染艾滋病毒、HPV 或衣原体的风险。此外，那些报告曾有过性行为的学生被要求评估自己感染三种感染中的每一种的风险。
1148 名学生，55%为女性，完成了问卷。27%的学生报告有过性行为。68%的学生认为同龄学生感染艾滋病毒/艾滋病的风险为高/中。HPV 和衣原体的相应比例分别为 19%和 25%。那些报告曾有过性行为的学生普遍认为自己感染艾滋病毒、衣原体或 HPV 的风险低于同龄人。
一般来说，感染艾滋病毒的风险被认为高于感染 HPV 或衣原体的风险，这很可能是因为学生对艾滋病毒的认识比对其他两种感染的认识更深刻。应该努力提高在校青少年对 HPV 和衣原体的认识和知识水平，并使他们认识到这些是常见的可预防感染。
