Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Vidhorf og thekking 16 ára unglinga á kynlífstengdu efni

Gunnarsdóttir, Kolbrún ; Geirsson, Reynir Tómas ; Thorkelsson, Eyjólfur ; Einarsson, Jón Thorkell LU orcid ; Ingvarsson, Ragnar Freyr LU orcid and Bragadóttir, Sigurbjörg (2008) In Laeknabladid 94(6). p.60-453
Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Sexually transmitted diseases and unplanned pregnancies are social and health issues among Icelandic teenagers and are more prevalent than in neighbouring countries. In 2001 knowledge and attitudes to sexual education, sexually transmitted disease and contraception among 16-year olds were investigated by questionnaire. Knowledge was defective. The study was repeated in 2005-2006 in a larger sample and change over five years estimated after an educational effort on sexual issues was launched by medical students (www.astradur.is).

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A survey with 69 multiple choice questions was administered in conjunction with sexual education by medical students. Changes in replies to the same questions were compared... (More)

OBJECTIVE: Sexually transmitted diseases and unplanned pregnancies are social and health issues among Icelandic teenagers and are more prevalent than in neighbouring countries. In 2001 knowledge and attitudes to sexual education, sexually transmitted disease and contraception among 16-year olds were investigated by questionnaire. Knowledge was defective. The study was repeated in 2005-2006 in a larger sample and change over five years estimated after an educational effort on sexual issues was launched by medical students (www.astradur.is).

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A survey with 69 multiple choice questions was administered in conjunction with sexual education by medical students. Changes in replies to the same questions were compared between 2001 and 2005-2006 as well as before and after teaching.

RESULTS: A total of 201 teenagers were in the first and 417 in the latter study. There was a wish for sexual education in schools and by outside advisers. The parental role was relatively small. Knowledge was inadequate in both, but significant improvement was seen between periods and after the educational effort (p<0.001). Misconceptions were common, such as 13% of boys believing that oral contraceptives protected against sexually transmitted disease, that herpes infection was curable by antibiotics (70% of respondents) and that modern medicine cured HIV (10% of respondents). Attitudes to sexual behavior had not changed by 2005-6 and 66% thought it normal for 14-16 year olds to have sexual intercourse, while only 8% were ready to handle the consequences.

CONCLUSION: Misconception and inadequate knowledge on various key aspects of sexuality is common, not least on serious sexually transmitted diseases, which suggests a need for improved sexual education in late primary and early secondary school.

(Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; ; ; and
alternative title
Attitudes and knowledge on sexual matters among 16-year old teenagers
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Adolescent, Adolescent Behavior, Contraception Behavior, Female, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Health Surveys, Humans, Iceland, Male, Pregnancy, Pregnancy in Adolescence, Pregnancy, Unplanned, Sex Education, Sexual Behavior, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Surveys and Questionnaires, Time Factors, English Abstract, Journal Article
in
Laeknabladid
volume
94
issue
6
pages
60 - 453
publisher
Læknafélag Íslands, Læknafélag Reykjavíkur
external identifiers
  • scopus:49249107402
  • pmid:18591722
ISSN
0023-7213
language
Icelandic
LU publication?
no
id
a80dcd43-0eaf-4093-b29c-6fcf5b039a51
date added to LUP
2018-04-26 09:56:20
date last changed
2024-03-01 18:14:20
@article{a80dcd43-0eaf-4093-b29c-6fcf5b039a51,
  abstract     = {{<p>OBJECTIVE: Sexually transmitted diseases and unplanned pregnancies are social and health issues among Icelandic teenagers and are more prevalent than in neighbouring countries. In 2001 knowledge and attitudes to sexual education, sexually transmitted disease and contraception among 16-year olds were investigated by questionnaire. Knowledge was defective. The study was repeated in 2005-2006 in a larger sample and change over five years estimated after an educational effort on sexual issues was launched by medical students (www.astradur.is).</p><p>MATERIAL AND METHODS: A survey with 69 multiple choice questions was administered in conjunction with sexual education by medical students. Changes in replies to the same questions were compared between 2001 and 2005-2006 as well as before and after teaching.</p><p>RESULTS: A total of 201 teenagers were in the first and 417 in the latter study. There was a wish for sexual education in schools and by outside advisers. The parental role was relatively small. Knowledge was inadequate in both, but significant improvement was seen between periods and after the educational effort (p&lt;0.001). Misconceptions were common, such as 13% of boys believing that oral contraceptives protected against sexually transmitted disease, that herpes infection was curable by antibiotics (70% of respondents) and that modern medicine cured HIV (10% of respondents). Attitudes to sexual behavior had not changed by 2005-6 and 66% thought it normal for 14-16 year olds to have sexual intercourse, while only 8% were ready to handle the consequences.</p><p>CONCLUSION: Misconception and inadequate knowledge on various key aspects of sexuality is common, not least on serious sexually transmitted diseases, which suggests a need for improved sexual education in late primary and early secondary school.</p>}},
  author       = {{Gunnarsdóttir, Kolbrún and Geirsson, Reynir Tómas and Thorkelsson, Eyjólfur and Einarsson, Jón Thorkell and Ingvarsson, Ragnar Freyr and Bragadóttir, Sigurbjörg}},
  issn         = {{0023-7213}},
  keywords     = {{Adolescent; Adolescent Behavior; Contraception Behavior; Female; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Health Surveys; Humans; Iceland; Male; Pregnancy; Pregnancy in Adolescence; Pregnancy, Unplanned; Sex Education; Sexual Behavior; Sexually Transmitted Diseases; Surveys and Questionnaires; Time Factors; English Abstract; Journal Article}},
  language     = {{ice}},
  number       = {{6}},
  pages        = {{60--453}},
  publisher    = {{Læknafélag Íslands, Læknafélag Reykjavíkur}},
  series       = {{Laeknabladid}},
  title        = {{Vidhorf og thekking 16 ára unglinga á kynlífstengdu efni}},
  volume       = {{94}},
  year         = {{2008}},
}