Department of Community Medicine, Information and Health Decision Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Alameda Hernani Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal.
CINTESIS@RISE, MEDCIDS, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Alameda Hernani Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Oct 26;19(21):13933. doi: 10.3390/ijerph192113933.
Adolescents and young adults are an important target concerning reducing health-risk behavior adoption, including sexual health. Studying their knowledge concerning sexuality and their main counsellors, can be an important step in targeting an updated health promotion approach. This study characterized adolescents and young adults' knowledge and attitudes about sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and contraception, prospecting for their main trusted counseling sources. We conducted a cross-sectional, population-based, self-report survey of 746 individuals aged between 14 and 24 years from Paredes, Portugal. The questionnaire included many dimensions, as demographic characteristics, youth behavior, currently sexually active status, main counselors concerning health topics, awareness, and knowledge about STDs and contraception. Mean age of the participants was 18.3 years, 50.5% of them had started their sexual activity. Males present themselves as more sexually active, starting earlier, and have more sexual partners than females. Participants reported an adequate knowledge perception about STDs and contraception methods, however we found different patterns on specific STDs and contraceptive methods, according to gender, age, and sexually active status. Our results help design specific interventions to reach youth, community, and healthcare providers, pointing out the value of bringing people to the center of health policies.
青少年和年轻人是减少健康风险行为（包括性健康）的重要目标人群。研究他们对性的了解以及他们的主要咨询者，可以是针对更新的健康促进方法的重要步骤。本研究描述了青少年和年轻人对性传播疾病（STD）和避孕的知识和态度，探讨了他们的主要信任咨询来源。我们对葡萄牙帕雷德斯的 746 名年龄在 14 至 24 岁之间的个体进行了一项横断面、基于人群的自我报告调查。问卷包括许多方面，如人口统计学特征、青年行为、当前的性活跃状况、主要的健康咨询来源、对 STD 和避孕的认识和知识。参与者的平均年龄为 18.3 岁，其中 50.5%的人已经开始了他们的性活动。男性比女性表现出更活跃、更早开始和更多的性伴侣。参与者对 STD 和避孕方法的认识有适当的感知，但根据性别、年龄和性活跃状况，我们发现对特定 STD 和避孕方法的认识存在不同的模式。我们的研究结果有助于设计针对青年、社区和医疗保健提供者的具体干预措施，指出将人们置于卫生政策中心的重要性。
