Sexually Transmitted Diseases: what adolescents know

Abstract

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a worldwide public health problem. The literature includes more than 30 sat-causing agents that can be classified as fungi, viruses and bacteria that can cause symptoms such as itching or even cause infertility or death. The objective of this study was to evaluate the level of knowledge of adolescents about sexually transmitted infections. A quantitative research was conducted through a questionnaire to assess the level of knowledge of adolescents from public schools in the city of Vitória de Santo Antão-PE (Brazil). Most adolescents knew the meaning of the acronym STIs (80%), 74% said they knew of some sexually transmitted infection, 70% of the participants reported that the school did some kind of activity related to the prevention of STIs.