Aysun KARABAYIR DOKUMCU, Yagmur GOKSEVEN ARDA, Guzin ZEREN OZTURK
Medicine Science - 2026;15(1):183-191
The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge level, attitudes, and behaviors regarding sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among young individuals aged 18 to 21 years. This study was designed as a single-center, cross-sectional, descriptive, and analytical study. A total of 157 individuals aged between 18 and 21 years who presented to Family Medicine outpatient clinics for any reason were included. In addition to sociodemographic data, participants were administered a questionnaire developed by the researchers based on a literature review to assess their knowledge about STIs, along with questions evaluating their attitudes and behaviors. The mean age of participants was 19.84+/-1.12 years. A total of 74.5% reported that they had not received any prior education on STIs. The mean STI knowledge score was 18.06+/-5.20 (range: 7-31). A statistically significant positive correlation was found between knowledge score and both age and age of sexual debut (p=0.015 and p=0.024, respectively). Participants who had received education on STIs or obtained information from school or healthcare professionals had significantly higher knowledge scores (p<0.001). Those who perceived their knowledge as sufficient had lower actual knowledge scores compared to those who considered their knowledge insufficient or were undecided (p=0.003). Participants using contraceptive methods had lower STI knowledge scores than those who did not (p=0.034). HIV/AIDS was the most commonly recognized STI (82.8%), while herpes (9.6%) and syphilis (14%) were the least recognized. The study revealed insufficient levels of STI-related knowledge among young individuals, with widespread misconceptions particularly regarding preventive methods. Significant associations were found between knowledge levels and factors such as age, gender, receipt of education, and access to reliable information sources. These findings highlight the critical need for comprehensive and structured sexual health education programs targeting youth to protect and promote public health.
