Application of narrative method to the study of adolescent sexuality

Sexual life is one of the most important health-related behaviors of adolescents. WHO has proposed the Narrative Research Method, a way to identify adolescents' sexuality as seen by themselves. The aim of the study was to apply the narrative method as a new research method in order to reveal the level of adolescents' knowledge about sexual life and their attitude to it in Georgia. Two groups of adolescents have been investigated. First group (n=69, age 14-16) consisted of students of secondary school in Tkibuli, second group (n=58, age 17-19) -- of students of the Tbilisi State Medical University College. 81.8% of the total number of respondents think that the couple should have some physical intimacy "within the limits"; sexual relationships before marriage were acceptable to 49.6%; in case of unexpected pregnancy or STD almost 50% would have addressed parents; in case of pregnancy 28% would have consider abortion and 55% -- marriage. The study was a pilot one. It has shown the advisability of the narrative research method as an effective approach to the investigation of adolescents sexuality especially in countries where the direct questions are not acceptable because of different reasons.