Sexual and contraceptive behavior, knowledge and attitudes of adolescents in Croatia

V Hirl-Heej, N ikanic-Dugi, J Dobravc-Poljak, ML Domljan, N Pustiek

Children’s Hospital Zagreb - University of Zagreb Medical School, Zagreb, Croatia

Objectives: To obtain data on sexual and contraceptive behavior of adolescents and most common risky behavioral patterns, which could produce unfavorable effects on the reproductive health; to establish the level of knowledge about reproduction, familly planning, contraception, sexually transmitted diseases, HIV/AIDS and attitudes concerning reproductive and sexual health problems. The results should serve as the basis for development of health and sexual education programs for adolescents.

Design & Methods: The study was done on 1972 students of both sexes, aged 15 – 19 years, classes I to IV, from 8 secondary schools of different profiles in Zagreb, Croatia. The data were obtained by self-administered anonymous quiestionnaire contained 64 questions, in 4 categories (demographic, behavioral, knowledge, attitudes).

Results: 25.8% of girls and 41.6% of boys, secondary school students at the age of 15 to 19 had sexual experience. At the age of 15 very few adolescents are sexually active (6.9% of girls and 13.2% of boys), and at the age of 19, 72.9% of girls and 76.5% of boys are sexually active. 24.0% of sexually active adolescent girls and 39.5% of boys start with sexual relations early, at the age of 15 and less. 23.6% of sexually active girls and 44.6% of boys have had 3 and more lifetime sexual partners. 13.2% of sexually active girls used no means/methods of contraception in their first sexual intercourse, and 19.5% of them used unreliable contraceptive methods such as coitus interruptus and natural methods. 58.8% of adolescents used condoms and only 6.6% used oral contraceptives. The major sources of information about protection from unplanned pregnancy and STDs are journals and TV. Knowledge about contraception and STDs is very low. With negative attitudes toward the use of contraception, especially the hormonal pill, the result is the risk-taking sexual behavior of Croatian adolescents.

Conclusions: Sexually active adolescents are exposed to risk of the unplanned pregnancy and STDs and know very little about consequences to the reproductive health. A systematic implementation of health and sexual education programs for adolescents concerning reproductive and sexual health is necessary.