[Care of reproductive health in adolescents]

Sexual behaviour in adolescent period is an important factor of reproductive health in later life. The scope of the study is to assess features of sexual behaviour in boys and girls aged 15-19 in Croatia. The study included 2466 schoolboys and 2858 schoolgirls in six towns in Croatia. According to obtained data sexual experience has been present in 49% of boys and 22% of girls. 60% of sexually active adolescents don't use any contraceptive means. Basic knowledge in human reproduction as well as in contraception is very poor in almost all examinees. Rate of induced abortion is much lower than in their peers in Western Europe as well as in the United States. The needs for an intensive health education programme of children and adolescents as well as the administration of an effective programme for the protection of their reproductive health have been stressed.