A cross-sectional study of high school males 12 - 17 years with regard to their sexual knowledge, sexual experience, and knowledge of, attitude to and practice of contraception

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted on 217 12-17 years old school boys attending two all male traditional high schools. The aim of the study was to determine their knowledge, attitude and practice with regard to sex related matters, including contraception and contraceptive methods. It also identified some of their unmet needs. Knowledge of sex related matters is at a fairly high level. Friend remains the most common source for information on sex related matters. Deeper and wider knowledge of sex related matters is needed by all age groups. AIDS and gonorrhoea are the two best known sexually transmitted diseases. Most of the younger of age group 12-14 was not aware of masturbation, but wet dreams were considered a normal male activity. The condom remains the best method of contraception for male. The condom and the pill are the best known methods of contraception. Multiple partners remains desirable for one third of the study sample. The school teachers are becoming more comfortable with sex related subjects and this augurs well for the younger ones. There is still poor knowledge about the menstrual cycle and this really needs to be addressed as one of the areas for improving the teenage pregnancy rate. The age of first coitus seems to have decreased from 14.3 yrs in the Young Adult Reproductive Health Survey to 11 years in this study. The majority (68 percent) said that abortion was wrong and two thirds of them had a Christian background. The majority (79 percent) agreed that contraception be a decision shared by both partners, and half of them said that they would use contraception with every coitus. Of the group, 27 percent of the 12-14 and 39 percent of the 15-17 were active now.(AU)