Knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding syphilis and gonorrhea among fourth form secondary school students in Kingston, Jamaica

ABSTRACT

The study was conducted among 195 fourth form students between the ages 13 and 17 years old in four secondary schools, one all girls, one all boys and two coed, in Kingston. The study was designed to investigate the differences in knowledge, sexual attitudes and practises between two groups of fourth form high school students, one of which had acquired specific formal haealth education and the other which had not done so and also based on their socialization in schools coed vs. segregated schools. Regarding syphilis 7.2 percent of the participants had never heard about the disease and 4.1 percent had never heard about gonorrhea. Based on health education status, regarding knowledge there was no significant difference between the two groups (t=1.72, p < 0.087, df=192). Regarding attitudes, t-test was statistically significant (t=3.47, p=0.000646, df=192). Attitudes of students based on their socialization in schools, coed vs single sex, t-test was statistically significant (t=2.92, p=0.003889, df=192). Regarding sex, of 189 respondents, 51.9 percent had had sex, 38.8 percent said they always used condoms, 43.9 percent used condoms sometimes and 17.3 percent had never used a condom. Regarding safe sexual practices, there was a significant statistical difference between the two groups of students based on health eduaction status and based on socialization in school. Sexual practices of respondents based on health education status, chi-squared was significant (chi-squared + 60.43, p < 0.0000001, df=2), based on socilization in schools chi-squared was significant, (chi-squared=90.997, p < 0.0000001, df=6). There was a strong statistically significant association betwen health education, socialization in schools and safe sexual practices. (AU)