In the beginning of medical training, future doctors’
approach
to the sexually transmitted infections: A sample study
S. Ozalp, O. Elcioglu, I.
Unluoglu
Eskisehir Osmangazi University Medical Faculty, Eskisehir, Turkey
Inroduction The
majority of adolescent and young adults’ morbidity and mortality can be
attributed to preventable causes. These include unintended pregnancy, sexually
transmitted infections (STIs), and unintended injuries etc.
Objectives The
objective of this study is to identify the knowledge, attitude and behaviors of
the students, who have recently started their higher education at Eskisehir
Osmangazi University Faculty of Medicine, on STIs.
Methods A survey
questionnaire composed of 52 items was distributed to freshman students at
Eskisehir Osmangazi University Faculty of Medicine in the first month of their
education before they had had any training on this issue in order to determine
the level of knowledge of adolescents and young adults on STIs. A total of 142 students
answered the questionnaires and the rate of participation to the survey was 81,1
percent (n=175).This survey is a cross sectional study. Arithmetic mean,
standard deviation, frequency and percentages were used to analyze the data and
describe the respondents in terms of the variables, taking account of the
measurement level of variables. SPSS 10.0 program was used for analysis.
Results The study has showed that participant male students were more informed on STIs
than participant female students. Almost all of the students recognize HIV and
AIDS as sexually transmitted disease. 85.5 percent of female students and 65.1
percent male students suggest not having sexual intercourse with infected people
in order to prevent themselves from diseases. 4 participant male students (5.2%)
and 21 male students (31.8%) said that they had had sexual experience. When
asked “have you ever had STIs so far?”, only one student answered as
“yes”. 75.4 percent of the students think that they are well informed
on prevention from STIs. 57.7 percent of the student stated that they had not
followed any method in order to prevent themselves from STIs. Suggestion by
using condom for prevention from STIs of male students (68.2%) is higher than
that of male students (68.2%). Using condom for prevention from STIs of male
students is 56.1 percent. For female students, the ratio of not having sexual
intercourse with infected people is 64.5%, and preference of having only one
spouse is 42.1%
KEY WORDS Adolescent, Medical student , STIs, Sexual education