Romanian Youths Insufficiently Educated Regarding STDs, Study Finds

ARPS carried out in April a quantitative study of the „knowledge, attitudes and practices of young people aged between 15 and 24 regarding infection with HIV and other sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs), and the consequences of unprotected sex.” The study was carried out on a sample of 1,325 young people aged between 15 and 24, and living in rural and urban areas.

Generally, youths are adequately informed on the ways HIV can be transmitted and on prevention methods. Still, awareness is low given that almost a quarter believe mosquitoes transmit HIV, 19% believe that HIV can be acquired through kissing, 8.7% – through a handshake, and 28% say avoiding getting bitten by a mosquito reduces the risk of HIV infection, says the study.

Starting one’s sex life can be a high-risk moment for STD infection, but it also indicates a certain general attitude to intimate relations among young people, the study says.

Around 62% of the youths questioned said they had begun their sex life, while 26.6% said they had not yet taken this step. Out of the former group, 27% said they had not used a condom during their first time, 32% claiming it was unexpected, 29% – that they trusted their partner, and 15% – that they had not thought of using a condom.

Of those that used a condom in their first sexual contact, 70% did so to avoid unwanted pregnancy, while only half were concerned about STDs.

A worryingly high share of youths aged 15-24 who had begun their sex life – 16.3% – said they have never used a condom, according to the study. They make up a group at a high risk of STD infection, especially when this behavior is combined with a tendency to engage in casual sex. The main reason they have never used a condom is trust in their partner, said 46.9% of those questioned.

The study found friends are the main source of information on how to use a condom for 37% of young people, while 10.5% learned about it from newspapers, magazines or brochures, or the internet (9.7%). School plays a small part, as only 8.4% of young people say teachers are the main source of information regarding condoms.

Youths have generally heard about AIDS and syphilis, but are less informed on other diseases such as genital herpes or gonorrhea and less than 6% have gotten tested for these illnesses. Those questioned in the study said they have learned most things about STDs from friends (27.3%), the Internet (13.4%), teachers (13.2%), magazines and brochures (11.2%) and parents or relatives (9.8%).

The results of the study, which is part of a project called „Integrated approaches to HIV/AIDS prevention in Romania,” underline the need for sexual education projects. In light of this, the Youth for Youth Association will carry out an awareness campaign in the Black Sea resort of Costinesti between July 19 and August 29. The campaign will involve 70 volunteers talking to about 40,000 young people about responsibility in their sex lives and HIV/AIDS prevention.

The volunteers will distribute 100,000 condoms, prizes and brochures on the campaign’s topics: STDs, HIV/AIDS, birth control and information on anatomy and physiology, as well as regarding responsible behavior.