Sexual behaviours of young adults from Upper Silesian Region

Skrzypulec V, Drosdzol A, Nowosielski K

Woman’s Health Chair. The Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland

According to WHO, contraception is defined as a conscious action in order to prevent an unwanted pregnancy and equally, to enable human to take independent decision of having progeny. The development of science enables to create more and more effective methods of family planning and prevention of sexually transmitted diseases. Effectiveness, safety as well as individual preferences are the main elements in evaluation of contraception methods.

Objectives: The aim of the study is to evaluate sexual behaviors and activity, awareness and propagation of contraceptives among young adults in Upper Silesian Region, and to establish the correlations between contraceptive methods used, the knowledge about family planning, prevention of sexually transmitted diseases, sexual behaviors and age, gender, education and religion.

Design and methods: A group of 360 pupils, students and working adults were included in the study. Age between 18 and 26 was a criterion for qualification to the investigated group. The research tool was an individually prepared “Sexual Behaviours Questionnaire” containing 26 questions. Statistica 6,0 computer software with multiple regression model, ch2 and F Fisher-Snedecor tests were used for statistical analysis.

Results: The results were obtained on the basis of questionnaire analysis. General population was divided into 3 subgroups, relating to the age. 75,8 % of young adults have initiated sexual life. The average initiation age for the general population was 18,4 (±1,92); the earliest time of initiation was observed at the age of 14 (0,8%), the latest – at the age of 24 (24%). 2,5% of sexual active respondents did not use any of contraceptives (they were all below the age of 20). A contraceptive method used the most frequently was a male condom (60,8%); the least – emergency contraception – (4,2%).

Conclusions: The present study established that an average age of sexual initiation was attenuated by the age of respondents and their higher education. The media were the general education resource. Therefore, it seems to be essential that young people should be provided with appropriate and complete information about sexual behaviors before their first sexual contacts.