Universal Journal of Public Health Vol. 4(1), pp. 8 - 15
DOI: 10.13189/ujph.2016.040102
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Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Concerning the Prevention of STIs among High School Students in Northern, Thailand

Yuko Yamaguchi ¹, Punpilai Sriareporn ², Prueksalada Khiaokham ², Piyawan Numtapong ², Yuko Tanaka ³, Hiroya Matsuo ^1,*
1 Department of International Health, Kobe University Graduate School of Health Sciences, Japan
² Faculty of Nursing, Chiang Mai University, Thailand
³ Faculty of Nursing, Seisen University, Japan

ABSTRACT

The objectives of this study were to examine the current state of knowledge and sexual behavior concerning the prevention of Sexually Transmitted Infections(STIs), and to evaluate attitudes toward safe sex and coping with STIs. We performed a self-administered questionnaire and focus group interview among 197 high school students in Northern, Thailand. We also determined the presence or absence of chlamydia and gonorrhea infections in urine samples taken from 70 students. The participants were actively concerned with emotional relationships and homosexuality, but held negative attitudes toward sexual behavior including premarital sex and kiss, and had less chance for sex education along with their developmental stages. Consciousness of sexuality, knowledge level of STI prevention, self-efficacy toward safe sex, and coping ability with STIs were significantly higher in females than in males. In the urine test, all of the participants as a sub-set of those surveyed had negative results for STIs. In conclusion, the knowledge level of the participants on STI prevention correlated with self-efficacy toward safe sex and coping ability with STIs. Thus, the authors of this study conclude that sex education is effective for students to get comprehensive knowledge about STI prevention, and educators need to consider students' individual sexual issues.

KEYWORDS
STIs, Prevention, Adolescents, Thailand

Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Yuko Yamaguchi , Punpilai Sriareporn , Prueksalada Khiaokham , Piyawan Numtapong , Yuko Tanaka , Hiroya Matsuo , "Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Concerning the Prevention of STIs among High School Students in Northern, Thailand," Universal Journal of Public Health, Vol. 4, No. 1, pp. 8 - 15, 2016. DOI: 10.13189/ujph.2016.040102.

(b). APA Format:
Yuko Yamaguchi , Punpilai Sriareporn , Prueksalada Khiaokham , Piyawan Numtapong , Yuko Tanaka , Hiroya Matsuo (2016). Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Concerning the Prevention of STIs among High School Students in Northern, Thailand. Universal Journal of Public Health, 4(1), 8 - 15. DOI: 10.13189/ujph.2016.040102.