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Education at school about sexually transmitted diseases
The British Journal of Venereal Diseases
|April 1, 1976
Summary
West German adolescents understood birth control better than sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), despite rising STD rates. This highlights a critical gap in sexual health education for young people.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Medical Education
- Sexology
Background:
- Sex education was officially implemented in West German schools in 1968.
- A survey of adolescents revealed significant knowledge gaps regarding sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
- This contrasts with epidemiological trends of increasing gonorrhoea incidence and declining birth rates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the level of understanding of birth control and STDs among adolescents in West German schools.
- To identify deficiencies in sexual health education concerning STDs.
- To propose measures for improving the dissemination of information on STDs.
Main Methods:
- A survey was conducted among 700 schoolchildren aged 14 to 15 years.
- Knowledge assessment focused on two key areas: birth control and STDs.
- Data analysis compared understanding levels between the two topics.
Main Results:
- Adolescents demonstrated a higher level of understanding regarding birth control compared to STDs.
- A significant gap in knowledge about STDs was observed in the surveyed population.
- This lack of knowledge is concerning given the rising incidence of gonorrhoea.
Conclusions:
- Current sex education programs in West Germany may not adequately address STDs.
- There is a need for improved and more comprehensive information dissemination on STDs.
- The formation of an international body, such as the International Union for the Study and Prevention of Venereal Diseases (IUVDT), is proposed to promote STD information globally.