Vidhorf og thekking 16 ára unglinga á kynlífstengdu efni
(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.
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- author
- Gunnarsdóttir, Kolbrún ; Geirsson, Reynir Tómas ; Thorkelsson, Eyjólfur ; Einarsson, Jón Thorkell LU ; Ingvarsson, Ragnar Freyr LU and Bragadóttir, Sigurbjörg
- alternative title
- Attitudes and knowledge on sexual matters among 16-year old teenagers
- publishing date
- 2008-06
- 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
- 2024-05-13 09:08:43
@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<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}}, }