Lally K, Nathan-V Y, Dunne S, McGrath D, Cullen W, Meagher D, Coffey J C, Dunne C
Centre for Interventions in Infection, Inflammation and Immunity (4i), Graduate Entry Medical School, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.
Ir J Med Sci. 2015 Mar;184(1):135-42. doi: 10.1007/s11845-014-1073-8. Epub 2014 Feb 8.
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a major public health challenge. In 2012, young people (20-29 years) represented 59.1 % of STI notifications in Ireland. In studying awareness and knowledge of STIs, methods of protection, and sexual practices of young people, many researchers have accessed university students.
Survey of 419 university students, investigating awareness and knowledge of sexual health and STIs, and risky sexual behaviour as a surrogate indicator of sexual activity in that age group.
Self-administered questionnaire on students' demographics, sexual activity, knowledge, attitude and awareness of sexual health and STIs.
419 students responded: 56.1 % female and 78.1 % undergraduate students. 74.2 % remembered receiving sexual education in secondary school and 84 % of those found it useful, but only 51.8 % remembered education regarding STIs. 44.4 % believed that STIs do not pose a long-term health risk. 90.7 % of respondents were sexually active, and 10.3 % had contracted STIs. 94.7 % of sexually active students used contraception, with condoms most frequently used. 69.1 % of those active had experienced penetrative vaginal sex, 86.4 % oral sex and 19.2 % anal sex without a condom in the prior 2 years. Condom usage initiated by women was primarily for STI prevention.
Young people do not always have the information needed for them to take responsibility for their sexual health. In this study, university-provided medical and information resources were available, but large numbers of students were unaware or uncomfortable accessing them. Future work is needed to determine factors contributing to effective communication of sexual health information to young people.
性传播感染是一项重大的公共卫生挑战。2012年，年轻人（20 - 29岁）占爱尔兰性传播感染报告病例的59.1%。在研究年轻人对性传播感染的认知和知识、保护方法及性行为时，许多研究针对的是大学生。
对419名大学生进行调查，探究其性健康和性传播感染的认知与知识，以及作为该年龄组性活动替代指标的危险性行为。
采用自行填写问卷的方式，内容涉及学生的人口统计学信息、性活动、性健康和性传播感染的知识、态度及认知。
419名学生做出回应，其中56.1%为女性，78.1%为本科生。74.2%的学生记得在中学接受过性教育，其中84%认为性教育有用，但只有51.8%记得接受过关于性传播感染的教育。44.4%的学生认为性传播感染不会造成长期健康风险。90.7%的受访者有过性活动，10.3%感染过性传播感染。94.7%有性活动的学生采取了避孕措施，最常使用的是避孕套。在过去两年中，69.1%有性活动的学生有过阴道性交，86.4%有过口交，19.2%有过无避孕套肛交。女性开始使用避孕套主要是为了预防性传播感染。
年轻人并非总能获得为其性健康负责所需的信息。在本研究中，大学提供了医疗和信息资源，但大量学生不知道或不愿意使用这些资源。未来需要开展工作，以确定有助于向年轻人有效传播性健康信息的因素。
