Abstract

OBJECTIVE

Turkey, is one of the countries which has a high adolescent population and İzmir is a city with the highest imigration ratios in Turkey. We selected 4 schools in an area with high imigration, Yamanlar area in İzmir, and planned an education for 13-15 years old students about adolescent health and sexual health. Purpose is to approve adolescents' awareness and responsibility about; reproductive health, family planning, sexual rights, sexual evolution, contraseptive methods, adolescent health, sexually transmitted diseases, HIV/AIDS.

METHODS

Education was planned and performed during the school year 2006-2007, to total of 329 adolescents by five medical doctors educated in adolescent and sexual health. Each group of 30 adolescent got 6 hours of education. Mean age was 12.61. Pretest and posttest was performed to find out how the education approved their awareness about their health.

RESULTS

The ratio of the ones who knew the function of their genital organs, the number of types and effects of sexually transmitted diseases was increased after the education. While 22% (1.13±0.59) of sexually transmitted disease type were known before the education, it increased to 49% (2.48±1.2). While 57% (2.88±1.9) of the sexually transmitted disease effect were known before the education, 81% (4.07±1.5) were known after. Before the education only 28% (1.98±1.3) of contraceptive methods were known, while it increased to 50% ( 3.53±1.6) after the education.

CONCLUSION

To decrease these risky behaviours and so their health problems, their awareness and responsibility about their health should be increased by education.