Adolescent sexuality and sexually transmitted diseases: Attitudes, beliefs, knowledge, and values (original) (raw)

1999, Journal of Pediatric Nursing

This study described rural adolescents' attitudes, beliefs, knowledge, and values with regard to sexuality and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Rotter's Social Learning Theory (1954) provided the theoretical framework for this descriptive, correlational design. The convenience sample consisted of 170 students from one rural high school. Consistent with past studies, results included the following: participants had more correct than incorrect knowledge related to sexual intercourse and STDs; the majority had positive attitudes toward condom use and believed it was OK for peers to have sex with a "steady;" the value of an exciting life correlated positively with attitudes toward sex; knowledge of sexual intercourse correlated positively with attitudes toward condom use; and the value health correlated positively with knowledge of sex and attitudes toward condom use, and negatively with attitudes toward sex. The findings in this study suggest the need for ongoing research with adolescents in the area of sexuality and STDs. Additionally, the findings support past studies, which revealed that knowledge of sexual intercourse and STDs has little impact on attitudes toward sexual intercourse. With the serious nature of some of the undesired consequences of adolescent sexual behavior, current and accurate information on this population is needed to assist health educators in developing interventions in this area. Copyright 9 1999by W.B. Saunders Company S EXUALLY ACTIVE ADOLESCENTS have the highest rates of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) (Bell & Hein, 1984; Newcomer & Baldwin, 1992). In 1994, for example, 138,000 cases of gonorrhea were reported among teens 15 to 19 years of age in the United States (Centers for Disease Control [CDC], 1995a). With STD rates increasing among adolescents, their risk of contracting acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is growing (Newcomer & Baldwin, 1992). The CDC reported 2,354 cases of AIDS among teens 13 to 19 years of age in 1995 (CDC, 1995b), with AIDS becoming one of the 10 leading causes of death among 15-to 24-year-olds (Kilbourne, Buehler, & Rogers, 1990). Also, during adolescent development there is the establishment of lifetime behavior patterns and attitudes related to sexual activities and risk taking, which therefore possibly has an impact on contraction of STDs throughout the life span (Morris, Warren, & Aral, 1993). Previous studies have indicated marked increases in sexual activities at age 14 years for males and age 15 years for females