Sexual health and contraception. A three years survey on Italian students’ knowledge and behaviours

Background Sexual health and experiences are considered of utmost importance for their influence on adolescents’ personal and intellectual development.Sexually transmitted diseases(STDs) and undesired pregnancies represent one of the greatest problems impacting adolescents all over the world. The aim of the study was to assess knowledge and behaviours of adolescents regarding contraception and STDs. Methods From 2014 to 2016 a self-designed questionnaire had been given to students of five different high schools of Udine(North-East of Italy) attending the first or the second or the third year. The questionnaire was composed by 5 open- and 10 closed-ended queries (maximum score of 19 points), regarding knowledge and attitudes related to contraception and STDs infection and prevention. Results Questionnaires were completely filled in by 3076 students: 46% males, 53%females and 1% n.d. Comparing global results on students knowledge among the years, right answers median scores showed little variations with a decrease between 2014 and 2015 (8/19 in 2014, 7/19 in 2015 and 7/19 in 2016). Identify correctly a threshold age for family counselling and the population with the highest risk for new HIV infections were the most critical topics (only the 3% and the 15% of the students gave the right answer respectively). Regarding behaviours, from 2014 to 2016 students declared to be more self-confident in refusing to have unprotected sex (+22%, p < 0,05). Furthermore they pinpointed parents(19%), hospital doctors(18%) and chemists(12%) as the main figures they would ask for contraception advices. Conclusions Results showed constant levels of knowledge on sexual health topics in the years. Self-confidence in preventing measures is increasing, however adolescents seem poorly educated about access to services and relevant epidemiology data on STDs infection. This survey could be a starting point for the implementation of more focused educational interventions. Key messages: Adolescents' knowledge on sexual health is constant during the years, with specific lacks in education. Parents and healthcare professionals are the main figures receiving requests by adolescents concerning sexual health and contraception advices