Infecciones vaginales y lesiones celulares cervicales (IV). Cuestionario de conocimiento de ETS. Estudio multivariante

Abstract

ObjectiveJaworski and Carey's 2007 sexually-transmitted disease (STD)-knowledge questionnaire was administered to patients with infections and lesions (disease group) and to a control group over a 1-year period. Material and methodsThe disease group consisted of 256 patients with infections and lesions identified by screening for other STDs. The control group was composed of 513 patients without infections or lesions. The questionnaire was administered at the end of consultations. In the first analysis, responses were coded as correct, incorrect or don’t know. In the multivariate analysis, using the formula C-I (correct minus incorrect responses), the code, N, was established. ResultsThe disease group was older than the control group, with a mean age of 36.42 years. Significant differences were found in age, labor and abortions in this group. Significant differences were found in favor of the control group, which showed a greater number of correct responses and fewer incorrect and don’t know responses. The disease group showed a greater lack of knowledge. There were significantly more patients in the disease group who responded «don’t know» to all 27 questions (p<0.05) or who provided incorrect responses to all questions (p<0.01). In the multivariate analysis, the mean score was significantly better (p<0.001) in the control group (5.55 versus 3.51). In all comparisons, the mean scores by age groups were significantly better (p<0.001) in the control group, as were the mean scores by educational level (p<0.001). Scores were not correlated with age but were strongly correlated with educational level: the higher the level of education, the higher the scores, which were highest among patients with a university education. ConclusionsKnowledge of STD is correlated with educational level and is best among persons with university education. Women should receive health education on contraception, STD prevention, female psychophysiology, and human relationships, as an important and necessary part of their studies, whatever they may be.