Objective: In this study, level of knowled- ge about sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), number of partners, condom use data of male military staff applying to our outpatient clinic for periodic examination and effect of the- ir sociodemographic variables on these data were invastigated.
Material and Methods: Between June 2018 and December 2018, 1107 volunteers of 2314 male military staff which had no history of urological diseases and no complaint but applying to our outpatient clinic for periodic examination were included. A personel iden- tifier information survey and knowledge test for sexually transmitted diseases validated to Turkish from 40 item STI/HIV Pretest were performed as face to face interview method to participants.
Results: Study group consisted between 19-42 aged males and mean age was 24.8±7.08. %93.5 of participants was 20-29 aged group, %76.5 was graduated from a university, %86 was single. %98.5 of participants reported ha- ving knowledge of STDs. Although all of our study group was in sexually active age, appro- ximately %54 of them had no sexual interco- urse in last year. Only %79.1 of this group used condom for prevention from STDs. When correlation between number of partners and condom use was considered, a statistically significant correlation was found between the increase in the number of partners and the decrease in the frequency of condom use (r=0.65; p=0.0001). Maxi- mum right answer was 36 in knowledge test for STDs, in this study mean right answer was 18.97 (0-35)±6.73 and it was found signifi- cantly higher in participants graduated from a university.
Conclusion: It is seen that male military staff which is high risk group about STDs (because of sexual active age group) have no enough level of knowledge about prevention methods from STDs and treatment of STDs. Especially in this group, preventive health care can be more important than therapeutic health care. We be- lieve that creating and applying of a sexual health education plan in coordination with the Ministry of Health and physicians will be extremely efficient.
Keywords: condom, education, military staff, sexually trans- mitted diseases
Abstract
Objective: In this study, level of knowled- ge about sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), number of partners, condom use data of male military staff applying to our outpatient clinic for periodic examination and effect of the- ir sociodemographic variables on these data were invastigated.
Material and Methods: Between June 2018 and December 2018, 1107 volunteers of 2314 male military staff which had no history of urological diseases and no complaint but applying to our outpatient clinic for periodic examination were included. A personel iden- tifier information survey and knowledge test for sexually transmitted diseases validated to Turkish from 40 item STI/HIV Pretest were performed as face to face interview method to participants.
Results: Study group consisted between 19-42 aged males and mean age was 24.8±7.08. %93.5 of participants was 20-29 aged group, %76.5 was graduated from a university, %86 was single. %98.5 of participants reported ha- ving knowledge of STDs. Although all of our study group was in sexually active age, appro- ximately %54 of them had no sexual interco- urse in last year. Only %79.1 of this group used condom for prevention from STDs. When correlation between number of partners and condom use was considered, a statistically significant correlation was found between the increase in the number of partners and the decrease in the frequency of condom use (r=0.65; p=0.0001). Maxi- mum right answer was 36 in knowledge test for STDs, in this study mean right answer was 18.97 (0-35)±6.73 and it was found signifi- cantly higher in participants graduated from a university.
Conclusion: It is seen that male military staff which is high risk group about STDs (because of sexual active age group) have no enough level of knowledge about prevention methods from STDs and treatment of STDs. Especially in this group, preventive health care can be more important than therapeutic health care. We be- lieve that creating and applying of a sexual health education plan in coordination with the Ministry of Health and physicians will be extremely efficient.
Keywords: condom, education, military staff, sexually trans- mitted diseases