Uso de métodos anticonceptivo y su relación con la prevención de enfermedades de transmisión sexual en jóvenes universitarios.

Abstract

Prevention of sexually transmitted diseases is essential to reduce contagion, protect individual and collective health, promote sex education, condom use and early detection. The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of knowledge about contraceptive methods and their relationship with the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in young university students. A quantitative, descriptive and correlational approach was used, with a cross sectional observational design. The sample included 302 students of Nursing, Clinical Psychology, and Biochemistry and Pharmacy of the Technical University of Machala, selected by non-probabilistic convenience sampling. Data were collected by means of a validated Likert-type survey and analyzed with SPSS software, and the results show that 86.3% of the students had a medium or high level of knowledge about STDs. However, there were significant gaps on specific diseases such as syphilis, hepatitis B and some clinical symptoms. It was evident that a higher level of knowledge is associated with more responsible attitudes towards prevention. Nevertheless, risky sexual behaviors were identified among the students, such as early sexual debut, unprotected sex and consumption of psychoactive substances.