THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN KNOWLEDGE ABOUT SEXUALLY-TRANSMITTED DISEASES AND ACTUAL SEXUAL-BEHAVIOR IN A GROUP OF TEENAGE GIRLS

Purpose: To assess longitudinally the relationship between knowledge a bout sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and sexual behaviour, contra ceptive use, STD protection and social class in a group of Swedish tee nage girls. Methods: Girls starting their upper secondary school educa tion were invited to attend a teenage clinic during a period of 2 year s (5 visits). Questions were asked about family situation, sexual acti vity, contraceptives, STD protection and knowledge about STD. Gynaecol ogical examinations were performed on entry and completion, and when n ecessary during the observation period. Results: Eighty-eight girls co mpleted all visits during the observation period. At 16 years of age t here were no significant differences in knowledge about various STD an d STD protection between girls from different social classes or with r espect to coital experience, age of coitarche and the subsequent numbe r of sexual partners at 18 years of age. At 18 years of age there was a better knowledge about STDs and the need for STD protection (p < 0.0 1) among girls with coital experience compared with those who had no c oital experience. Girls reporting many lifetime partners were best inf ormed, but in spite of solid knowledge they did not protect themselves from infection. Even though 34% of the girls with coital experience w ere found to harbour a STD during the course of this study, almost all girls denied the possibility of having acquired or transmitted an inf ection. Conclusions: Although girls were well-informed about sexually transmitted diseases and knew how to avoid infections this knowledge h ad little influence on behaviour.