The assessment of knowledge on sexually transmitted infections among young adults

Spolno prenosive infekcije jedan su od najvažnijih javnozdravstvenih izazova današnjice. Značenje spolno prenosivih infekcija (SPI) višeznačno je i one su golemo opterećenje za morbiditet i mortalitet kako u zemljama s ograničenim ekonomskim resursima, tako i u razvijenim zemljama Europe i Sjeverne Amerike. Adolescenti i mlade odrasle osobe do 25 godina života se smatraju najrizičnijom skupinom za zarazu spolno prenosivim bolestima (SPB), što je termin koji se često koristi kao istoznačnica za SPI. Mladi češće imaju više partnera, imaju više rizičnih partnera, skloniji su neplaniranim i slučajnim spolnim odnosima te neredovitoj uporabi kondoma. Stoga se mogu smatrati i povezničkom populacijom koja može biti odgovorna za širenje infekcije sa zaraženih na opću populaciju. S ciljem da se ispita znanje o SPI među mladom populacijom provedeno je istraživanje u kojem je sudjelovalo 300 ispitanika. Instrument istraživanja bio je anketni upitnik koji se sastojao od 19 pitanja te je bio proveden na društvenim mrežama. Na temelju obrađenih podataka proizlazi da većina ispitanika (82%) smatra da su SPB javnozdravstveni problem. Ukupno 223 ispitanika smatra da medicinska sestra ima važnu ulogu u edukaciji i prevenciji SPB-a. Medicinska sestra u ulozi edukatorice informira mlađu populaciju o SPB, načinima prijenosa, o simptomima, rizičnim čimbenicima, potencijalnim komplikacijama, o uporabi adekvatne zaštite, te o važnostima redovitih ginekoloških pregleda. Ukupno 75,7% ispitanika se izjasnilo da se nedovoljno priča o samoj prevenciji SPB-a. Daljnjom analizom uvidjeli smo da se 128 ispitanika izjasnilo da ne posjeduju dovoljno znanja o SPB-a; pitanje nam ukazuje da je potrebno i dalje govoriti o ovoj problematici, a ne je smatrati „tabu temom“.Sexually transmitted infections are one of the most important public health challenges of our time. The significance of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is multifaceted, as they give rise to a substantial burden of morbidity and mortality – not only in countries with limited economic resources, but also in the developed countries of Europe and North America. Adolescents and young adults up to the age of 25 are considered to be at the highest risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), the latter being a term commonly used as a synonym for STIs. Young people tend to have multiple partners and are more likely to have sexual relations with high-risk partners; moreover, they are more likely to have unplanned and random sexual intercourses, while their condom usage is highly irregular. Therefore, young people and adolescents can be considered as a gateway population that may be responsible for the spread of infection to the general population. A survey was conducted in order to test the knowledge of STIs among the young population, and the sample encompassed 300 participants. Questionnaire that was used as a survey instrument consisted of 19 questions and was distributed via social networks. Based on the analysed data, this survey has shown that the majority of respondents (i.e. 82% of them) believe that STDs can be considered a public health problem. A total of 223 respondents felt that the nurse has an important role in education and therefore prevention of STDs. In the role of an educator, nurse informs the population of young people about the STDs, modes of transmission, leading symptoms, risk factors, potential complications, the use of adequate protection and the importance of regular gynaecological examinations. A total of 75.7% of respondents said that they feel there is not enough awareness and conversation about the prevention of STDs. Further analysis showed that 128 respondents felt like they do not possess sufficient knowledge on the topic of STDs; the latter points towards the need to speak on this subject even more, rather than consider it to be a taboo subject