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STI Knowledge in Berlin Adolescents

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  • Frederik Tilmann Von Rosen

    (Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Institute for Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, 10117 Berlin, Germany
    Institute for Public Health and Nursing Research, University of Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Antonella Juline Von Rosen

    (Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Institute for Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, 10117 Berlin, Germany
    Institute for Public Health and Nursing Research, University of Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Falk Müller-Riemenschneider

    (Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Institute for Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, 10117 Berlin, Germany
    Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117549, Singapore)

  • Inken Damberg

    (Institute for Public Health and Nursing Research, University of Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany)

  • Peter Tinnemann

    (Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Institute for Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, 10117 Berlin, Germany
    Akademie für Öffentliches Gesundheitswesen, 40472 Düsseldorf, Germany)

Abstract

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) pose a significant threat to individual and public health. They disproportionately affect adolescents and young adults. In a cross-sectional study, we assessed self-rated and factual STI knowledge in a sample of 9th graders in 13 secondary schools in Berlin, Germany. Differences by age, gender, migrant background, and school type were quantified using bivariate and multivariable analyses. A total of 1177 students in 61 classes participated. The mean age was 14.6 (SD = 0.7), 47.5% were female, and 52.9% had at least one immigrant parent. Knowledge of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was widespread, but other STIs were less known. For example, 46.2% had never heard of chlamydia, 10.8% knew of the HPV vaccination, and only 2.2% were aware that no cure exists for HPV infection. While boys were more likely to describe their knowledge as good, there was no general gender superiority in factual knowledge. Children of immigrants and students in the least academic schools had lower knowledge overall. Our results show that despite their particular risk to contract an STI, adolescents suffer from suboptimal levels of knowledge on STIs beyond HIV. Urgent efforts needed to improve adolescent STI knowledge in order to improve the uptake of primary and secondary prevention.

Suggested Citation

  • Frederik Tilmann Von Rosen & Antonella Juline Von Rosen & Falk Müller-Riemenschneider & Inken Damberg & Peter Tinnemann, 2018. "STI Knowledge in Berlin Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-14, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:1:p:110-:d:126311
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Santelli, J.S. & Lowry, R. & Brener, N.D. & Robin, L., 2000. "The association of sexual behaviors with socioeconomic status, family structure, and race/ethnicity among US adolescents," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 90(10), pages 1582-1588.
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    Cited by:

    1. So-Hyun Moon & Hyung-Ran Kim & Miok Kim, 2020. "Predictors for Sexual Intercourse Experience among Runaway Female At-Risk Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-11, June.
    2. Antonella Zizza & Marcello Guido & Virginia Recchia & Pierfrancesco Grima & Federico Banchelli & Andrea Tinelli, 2021. "Knowledge, Information Needs and Risk Perception about HIV and Sexually Transmitted Diseases after an Education Intervention on Italian High School and University Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-14, February.
    3. Jon Øyvind Odland, 2018. "Teenage Reproductive Health: Pregnancy, Contraception, Unsafe Abortion, Fertility," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-4, June.

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