Role of gender in sexual behaviours and response to education in sexually transmitted infections in 17-year-old adolescents

Abstract

Objective to investigate gender differences in high school students with respect to sexual risk behaviours, and their perceptions of the effect of an educational programme on sexually transmitted infections (STIs). In addition, this study aimed to investigate differences between students in programmes preparing for university compared with vocational programmes. Participants, setting and design second-year high school adolescents from two communities in south-west Sweden were invited to participate in the study, and completed a questionnaire on sexual experience, sexual risk behaviours and the impact of the educational programme on STIs. Findings males took less responsibility for STI prevention than females. Furthermore, males perceived themselves to be less influenced by the STI education than females. Females had more experience of same-sex sexuality than males. Conclusions and implications for practice males take less responsibility for STI prevention than females. When planning STI education, it is important to consider gender, traditions and various learning styles. If STI education fails to reach males, the prevalence of these infections will continue to increase.