Attitudes, behaviour and knowledge on sexuality among female adolescents in Zagreb, Croatia

The aim of this study teas to estimate the level of knowledge about sexuali ty, attitudes and sexual behaviour of female adolescents. The study include d 194 female students, 117 from Medical High School (MHS) and 77 from Gener al High School (GHS) in Zagreb. Data was collected using an anonymous self- administered questionnaire. In addition to items on personal data (age, par ental education etc.), the participants were asked to define terms about se xuality (e.g. menstruation, puberty) the definitions of which are found in biology textbooks for the fifth and eighth grade of primary school. The aim of the third part of the survey was to collect information, about attitude s and behaviour of female adolescents. The results showed a Low level of kn owledge in students of both schools. General High School students showed a higher Level of knowledge than their Medical High School peers. One fifth o f General High School students and 1/3 of Medical High School students were unable to define the term "menstruation". The majority of adolescents talk about sexuality with their friends, 92.1% of General High School and 81.2% of Medical High School students. Almost 50% of students of both schools wo uld like to talk about sexuality with their school doctor: 6.9% of Medical High School students had at least one sexual intercourse while none of the General High School students had been sexually active at the time of the su rvey. As the majority of students were not sexually active and results show ed a rather low Level of knowledge, this seems to be the ideal period for t he implementation of educational programs aimed at increasing the level of knowledge, and thus preventing unwanted consequences (STD, pregnancy, abort ion, infertility).