KNOWLEDGE ABOUT SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES AMONG THE YOUTH IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

Abstract

Background: Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are most widespread infectious diseases transmitted by any type of sexual contact Aim: To establish the importance of knowledge of STDs among the youth in BiH. Subjects and methods: In the period 2007-2009, 6000 subjects were questioned (5,000 students and 1,000 non-students) aged 19-24 in four largest university cities in BiH: Sarajevo, Tuzla, Mostar, and Banjaluka. The subjects were selected by random sampling, with different places of residence, different life and work environments. The survey was voluntary and anonymous. Results : The survey included 2508 boys (41.8%) and 3492 girls (58.2%). The experimental group included 5.000 subjects (2128 male students and 2872 female students) while the control group included 1,000 subjects (360 male non-students and 640 female non-students). Insufficient knowledge of STDs was registered among 48.0% of the surveyed youth in BiH. The girls showed significantly better knowledge of STDs (p<0.001) than the boys and this knowledge was not conditioned by their place of residence (x 2 =1.6; P=0.66). The youth in BiH or 96.0% (N=5.760) of them state intercourse as the means of transmitting STDs, the girls significantly better knowledge than boys (z=4.83; p<0.001). The knowledge of the means of transmitting STDs proved to depend on the place of residence (x 2 =10.94; p=0.004) as the subjects living in dormitories (5.93%) showed significantly less knowledge (x 2 =-2.87; p=0.004) than those paying for their rent (x 2 =-0.32; p=0.75). Conclusion: Insufficient knowledge of STDs, especially by male individuals is one of the types of risky sexual behavior. Keywords : youth, sexually transmitted diseases, students, non-students