Risk factors for sexually transmitted diseases among females adolescents

ABSTRACT

OJBECTIVE To explore the risk factors involved in the occurence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among female adolescents. METHODS: A 38-item pretested questionnaire was administered to a purposive sample of 28 female adolescents, aged 16-19.9 years, diagnosed with more than one sexually transmitted disease, attending the Comprehensive Health Centre, Kingston, Jamaica. Information regarding their socio-demographic characteristics, sex education, sexual behaviour and knowledge of safer sex practices was analysed using SPSS Version 6.13. RESULTS: The median age of their first sexual experience, initiation of alcohol consumption and smoking was 15 years. Sixty-one per cent had one or two children and/or were pregnant. Their reports behaviour was inconsistent with the high scores obtained in the knowledge of safer sex practices. Four of them had HIV. Fifty-seven per cent were unable to say what were their STD diagnosis. Fifty-four per cent had three or more partners, 62 percent consumed alcoholic drinks and 25 smoked cigarettes/marijuana. They seldom used condoms. There was an inverse association between their age at first sexual experience and their number of reported partners (p<.05). CONCLUSION: The early initiation of unprotected sexual activity and substance use in this group of adolescents, the low rate of condom use and the history of multiple partners are a cause for concern. Their apparent knowledge of safer sex practices did not appear to influence their risky behaviour.(Au)