Conhecimento, atitude e pratica sobre metodos anticoncepcionais, prevenção de DST/AIDS em adolescentes de escolas publicas e privadas do municipio de São Paulo

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2005

RESUMO

The aim of this study was to assess and compare knowledge, attitudes and practices relating to contraceptive methods and STD/AIDS prevention among adolescents from public and private schools in São Paulo City, Brazil. Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional study of knowledge, attitudes and practices was conducted using a randomly selected sample. Thirteen public and 5 private elementary, junior high and high schools in São Paulo City were included. One thousand five hundred and ninety-four adolescents aged between 12 and 19 years were selected to complete an anonymous self-administered questionnaire containing 5 sections. Questions concerned sociodemographic and reproductive characteristics, knowledge and use of contraceptive methods, adequacy of contraceptive knowledge, knowledge/suitability of knowledge about STD/AIDS prevention, and consistent condom use. Questionnaires were distributed in a classroom supervised by the researcher. Cluster analysis was the statistical technique used to evaluate the socioeconomic status of respondents, categorized as high and low. For comparison of public and private schools, the statistical tests performed were Pearson?s chi-square test, Yates chi-square test or Fisher?s chi-square test and Wilcoxon-Gehan test. Life table analysis was used to assess the cumulative rates of age at first sexual intercourse. Prevalence ratios were calculated for the following variables: contraceptive use, consistent use of a male condom, knowledge and adequacy of knowledge about contraceptive methods, knowledge and adequacy of knowledge about STD/AIDS prevention, and school system. To confirm factors associated with contraceptive use, consistent use of a male condom, adequate contraceptive knowledge and adequate knowledge about STD/AIDS prevention, Poisson?s multiple regression analysis was employed. Results: One thousand three hundred and twenty-five adolescents of public schools and 269 adolescents from private schools were included. The mean age was 15.1 years in public schools and 14.7 years in private schools (p<0.002). About 61% of adolescents in private schools and 61.2% of adolescents in public schools were females (p>0.05). Adolescents of high socioeconomic status predominated in private schools, whereas adolescents of low socioeconomic status predominated in public schools (p<0.001). About 18.6% of adolescents in private schools and 28.6% of adolescents in public schools were sexually active (p<0.002). The median age at first sexual intercourse was 17.5 years in both school systems. The prevalence of contraceptive use was 84% in private schools and 78.8% in public schools (PR=1.07 CI [0.93-1.22]). In both school systems, the main reasons for not using contraceptives were unexpected intercourse and refusal of the respondent or the partner. The Catholic religion was the sole factor associated with contraceptive use. Adolescents in private schools reported having more contraceptive knowledge than their counterparts in public schools. Only 25.7% of public school adolescents and 40.8% of private school adolescents scored 5 or more, PR=1.59 [1.34-1.88], which was considered a satisfactory score. Factors associated with greater contraceptive knowledge were: being female, attending a private school, being in junior high and high school, having a high socioeconomic status, being sexually active and being older. Consistent use of a male condom was reported to be 60% in private schools, 57.1% in public schools (p>0.05), and was negatively associated with the female sex and high socioeconomic status. Variables associated with greater STD/AIDS knowledge were female sex, higher education, private school, white race and unmarried status. Conclusion: The prevalence of contraceptive use was high in both school systems and focused primarily on the condom and the pill. Contraceptive knowledge was inadequate in both school systems and was associated with socioeconomic status, gender issues, older age and onset of sexual activity. Knowledge of STD/AIDS prevention was adequate, however it did not determine consistent condom use. Our findings indicate the need to implement health, educational and communications programs to minimize the vulnerability of adolescents in both public and private school systems

ASSUNTO(S)

anticoncepção sexo seguro para prevenção da aids adolescentes - campinas (sp)

ACESSO AO ARTIGO

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