Evaluation before and after the intervention on the knowledge by adolescents about sexually transmitted infections

Abstract

Objective: to evaluate the impact of an intervention on the knowledge about sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and the healthcare services available among adolescents attending school in the Raval Nord neighborhood (Barcelona). Method: a quasi-experimental study before and after the intervention in adolescents >14-year-old attending 3rd and 4th term of Secondary School and 1st and 2nd term of High School in three centres. Variables: sociodemographical, risk behaviours (11 items with answer through the 0-10 Likert Scale), use of condoms, initiation of sexual relationships, use of alcohol and other drugs, knowledge of healthcare services and of STIs. An intervention with three educational units: risk behaviours and ways of infection; symptoms, knowledge and treatment of STIs; use of healthcare services. Data treatment and analysis: Chi Square and Mann Whitney's U for bivariate analysis with sociodemographical variables. Confidence intervals were calculated at 95% safety (095%). Results: the study included 211 adolescents: 56.8% werefemale, wth 15.4 years as mean age. Of these, 79.6% came from outside Europe, 30.3% had initiated sexual relationships, and 32.4% always used condoms; 61.0% of them never associated alcohol or other drugs with their relationship. HIV was the most widely known STI (59.8%). Men had a lower perception of risk than women. After the intervention, there was an increase in their overall perception of risk, as well as in their knowledge of healthcare services and STIs. Conclusions: there is lack of knowledge among adolescents about STIs. After the intervention, there was an improvement in their knowledge of STIs and healthcare services, as well as in their perception of risk.