Abstract
Author(s): Grazyna Baczek, Ewa Dobek, Tomasz Duda, Wojciech Giermaziak
Introduction. The youth are particularly vulnerable to contracting sexually transmitted diseases. Educators’ influence and health education seem to be effective tools to protect the group. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the level of secondary school student’s knowledge of sexually transmitted diseases. Material and methods. A group of young people learning in a secondary school in Sandomierz formed the study population (300 students). A diagnostic survey was the research method, while a proprietary questionnaire consisting of 25 closed questions concerning knowledge and opinion was the research technique. Results. In the studied group girls revealed greater knowledge of sexually transmitted infections. The level of knowledge among students of classes with extended curriculum in biology and chemistry was higher than that of students attending classes with other extended curricula. School and the Internet were mentioned as the most common sources of knowledge of the issue. The majority of the respondents evaluated their level of knowledge of STD as satisfactory. Conclusions. Students’ knowledge of sexually transmitted diseases is insufficient. The results presented in the paper could be used to improve school curricula. They help to identify the areas where the knowledge level is the lowest and needs improvement.