[Teenage knowledge about sex]. / Information des jeunes en matière de sexualité.

The aim of this study was to investigate the quality and sources of teenagers' information about sex. Between October 26th and December 16th 1997, 277 pupils from lower and upper schools agreed to participate in this study. Two hundred and seventy (97.5%) of the pupils in this population declared that they had received information about sex. This information was provided principally by the media, followed by friends, boyfriends and girlfriends, the school and their parents. The information received concerned sexually transmitted diseases (STDs and AIDS), the consequences of sexual relationships, sexual hygiene and the signs of puberty. We found that 95.5% of the pupils knew about AIDS and gonorrhea and that 91.7% knew how to protect themselves against AIDS and STDs. Thus, most pupils had received information, from various sources, on sexuality. Parents played little role in the sexual education of their children, and the State was involved in various ways.

[Sexual practices in the school milieu]. / Pratique de la sexualité en milieu scolaire.

OBJECTIVE: To appreciate the real sexual practice among students. POPULATION AND METHODS: From 29th April to 10th May 1997, 1,867 students from lower and upper schools have accepted to take part in the investigation being carried on their practice of sexuality. RESULTS: 1,333 students, that is 72% of the group, have already had sexual intercourse. The average age of the very first sexual intercourse was 17 years and the extreme ages range from 8 to 24 years. 72.7% of the students have already had sexual intercourse less once a month, mostly it is by love in 68.6% or by desire in 21.1%. Among more than half of the girl students, that is 59.5%, their partners was students. 31.3% were at least once pregnant. CONCLUSION: The outcome of this study revealed that sexual activity among students is rare and sporadic. It is motivated by love.