Sexual and reproductive health of adolescents in Belgium, the Czech Republic, Estonia and Portugal
Language English Country England, Great Britain Media print
Document type Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Validation Study
PubMed
19565419
DOI
10.1080/13625180902894524
PII: 912790102
Knihovny.cz E-resources
- MeSH
- Contraception Behavior ethnology statistics & numerical data MeSH
- Chlamydia Infections psychology MeSH
- Adolescent Behavior * ethnology MeSH
- European Union MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Adolescent MeSH
- Young Adult MeSH
- Pilot Projects MeSH
- Cross-Sectional Studies MeSH
- Surveys and Questionnaires standards MeSH
- Sexual Behavior ethnology statistics & numerical data MeSH
- Schools MeSH
- Family Planning Services statistics & numerical data MeSH
- Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
- Adolescent MeSH
- Young Adult MeSH
- Male MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
- Validation Study MeSH
- Geographicals
- Belgium MeSH
- Czech Republic MeSH
- Estonia MeSH
- Portugal MeSH
OBJECTIVES: This pilot study, within the REPROSTAT 2 Project, aimed at investigating the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) of school-based youths in four countries of the European Union. METHODS: Students of either sex, aged between 16 and 19 years and entering grade 10, 11 or 12 during the 2005-2006 school year participated in a cross sectional survey. A structured questionnaire was administered to a convenience sample of students from selected schools in Belgium, the Czech Republic, Estonia and Portugal. RESULTS: In each country, more than three quarters of respondents had previously had a boyfriend or girlfriend and almost half had heterosexual intercourse. More than 85% of sexually experienced youths in each country had used contraception at coital debut. Mean age at coital debut varied between 15.2 (Belgium) and 16.4 years (Czech Republic). While 51% of respondents in Estonia knew of Chlamydia trachomatis infection, the corresponding figure in Portugal was only 12%. CONCLUSIONS: Sexual activity is common among school-going youths in all four countries. This highlights the need for Member States to systematically collect indicators of SRH in this population. Use of a common measurement framework can inform the establishment of common targets for joint initiatives such as reducing teenage pregnancy and STIs in adolescents.
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