Perception of Adolescent Students toward Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Abstract

Abstract Background: Adolescents is one of the main groups at risk of infection by STD’s, This leads to the need to pay attention regarding their knowledge and exposure to risk behaviors, to estimate possible predictors of preventive behaviors, weak knowledge, attitude and beliefs regarding STDs. Aim of the study: To assess the perception of adolescent students toward STDs. Design: A descriptive design was utilized to conduct the current study. Setting: This study was conducted at Abasia Nursing Institute for boys in Abasia Mental Health hospital and Technical Health Institute in Imbaba both affiliated to the Ministry of Health and Population. Sample: A purposive sample composed of 321 adolescent male students. Tools of data collection: First tool: An Interviewing questionnaire format: Part 1: Socio-demographic characteristics of the adolescent students and their families; Part 2: Health History of adolescent students; Part 3: Adolescent students’ knowledge regarding STDs, Part 4: Adolescent students’ risk behaviors toward STDs; Part 5: Adolescent students’ preventive behaviors toward STDs. Second tool: Perception of adolescent students’ questionnaire regarding STDs: Part 1: Adolescent students’ beliefs regarding STDs, Part 2: Adolescent students’ attitude regarding STDs. Results: 87.9% of adolescent students had unsatisfactory knowledge toward STDs, 79.8% of students had low agreement towards risk behaviors about STDs,98.1% of students had positive preventive behaviors toward STDs, 91.9% of students had positive beliefs toward STDs, and 94.1% of students had negative attitudes toward STDs. Conclusion: More than three quarters of students had unsatisfactory knowledge, and low agreement towards risk behaviors. While, the majority of them had positive preventive behaviors toward STDs, positive beliefs toward STDs, and negative attitudes toward STDs. Also, there is a significant relation between STDs knowledge of students and their age, education, and place of residence. All students <15 years had unsatisfactory knowledge, and there is no significant relation between students’ knowledge of STDs and their attitude toward STDs. Recommendations: Implement health educational programs to increase the adolescent student’s awareness toward STDs and its preventive measures.