Abstract
to assess the relation of the locus of control with the adolescents' knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP). this is a cross-sectional study with 1,192 high school students. Data were collected using the KAP questionnaire and the Levenson locus of control scale and analyzed by descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis H test. Women presented higher Externality Powerful Others locus of control than man (p=0.0015) and adolescents over 17, higher Externality Chance locus of control (p=<0.0001). Students who used contraceptive methods at the first contraceptive method had higher Externality Powerful Others (p=0.0107) and those who used coitus interruptus, had higher Externality Chance (p=0.0013). Internality was inversely proportional to the practice in relation to the dimensions of the locus of control. The dimensions of the locus of control were related to some contraceptive practices, but little or no relation to knowledge and attitude.
Highlights
METHODSYoung people are currently starting their sexual lives early, around 14, often without the use of birth control methods (BCM), [1,2,3,4] which increases vulnerability to pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs)(2)
When participants are evaluated in the dimension Internality it means that they are responsible for controlling all their acts; in the dimension Externality Powerful Others locus of control, that their actions are influenced by people considered powerful/important; and in the dimension Externality Chance locus of control, that their attitudes are imputed to destiny or luck, as a reference to the events of life[15]
Of the group of adolescents who started sexual activity, 54.3% were female, 43.9% male, and 1.8% did not answer if they used condoms or not
Summary
METHODSYoung people are currently starting their sexual lives early, around 14, often without the use of birth control methods (BCM) , [1,2,3,4] which increases vulnerability to pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs)(2). According to a study carried out in Piauí State, in the group of students who had already started sexual activity, few had fixed partners. This is a worrying result because relationships with potential partners increase the risks mentioned above[7]. Considering they maintain frequent sexual activity, young people take on a risk behavior, especially when they do not use condoms in sexual relations[3]. A study carried out in Nigeria indicates that adolescents have knowledge about sexual health, but the risk behavior assumed by them in terms of contraception is not consistent with these data[8]. Contraceptive decision in adolescence, because of little or no previous experience, may result in the choice for low-efficacy methods and have lifelong consequences[9], such as pregnancy or dropout[10], the decision of quitting studies may occur even before pregnancy, for other reasons
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