Evaluating sexuallytransmitted infection education : asurvey of lebanese high-schoolstudents

Abstract FRE

Objective: This study highlights the importance of sex education for high school students.

Methods: Three hundred high school students, age 15-18 years, in two Lebanese schools, answered questions about sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and human papilloma virus (HPV) prior to attending a lecture by the same OBGYN physician during 2010-2012.

The students then filled the same questionnaire one day-week later.Answers were compared using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS).

Results : 59.5% of the targeted population appeared to receive sex education from their school and 44.6% from the Internet.

81.8% showed more knowledge about HPV after the lecture compared to 17.9% before it ( p = 0.001), and 91.6% learned about HPV vaccine after the lecture compared to 81.9% beforehand ( p = 0.02).

After the lecture, students made an association between HPV and cervical cancer ( p = 0.04).

There were no significant differences concerning awareness about STIs, risk of fatality and gender distribution.

Conclusion: It is essential to spread awareness about the burden of STIs and implement the appropriate sexual educational programs in schools across Lebanon.

Other methods should be assessed that may also be needed in conjunction in order to deliver this information in the most optimal fashion