Teenage girls and venereal disease prophylaxis

Abstract

One of the main aims of venereal disease education is to encourage the use of prophylactic techniques by sexually-active persons. To do this educators must convey information about prophylaxis that is relevant. This study was designed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and behaviour regarding prophylaxis of a group of 200 American adolescent girls. The findings suggest areas of prophylaxis that should be emphasised and ways that might encourage the acceptance and use of prophylactic measures. The study showed there were some misunderstandings and that it was important, for example, to clarify the relationship of the oral contraceptive to possible venereal disease infection. Education involving both the cognitive and affective domains was indicated by the partial acceptance of the use of the condom, particularly by persons who had more than one partner.