[Educational intervention for preventing unwanted pregnancies and sexually-transmitted diseases among teenagers in the city of Toledo, Spain].
BACKGROUND
No-one doubts the need of effectively providing teenagers with information about birth control and sexually-transmitted diseases. This study is aimed at evaluating the results of an educational intervention related to these matters.


METHODS
Before-and-after study of an educational intervention (based on lectures and handing out documentation) without a control group. A questionnaire was passed out before and after the intervention to assess changes in knowledge and attitudes of the 4th-year Compulsory Secondary Education students at five schools in Toledo.


RESULTS
The questionnaire was answered by 238 of the 268 students. The average age was 15.59. A total of 54.66% were females. In all, 24.03% had had some sexual relation. The birth control method used most often was the condom (98.24%). The girls more refuse more unprotected relations (76.5% vs. 48.6%; p<0.001) and share the same classroom with a student having AIDS (80.47% vs. 60.38%; p<0.001). Six months following the start of the intervention, a total of 197 students answered the second questionnaire. Proper condom use rose from 62.13% to 73.46%.


CONCLUSIONS
Following the intervention, an improvement has been noted in the degree of knowledge related to birth control methods and AIDS transmission and a more positive attitude regarding HIV.
Callejas Pérez
Sonsoles
S
Centro de Salud Santa María de Benquerencia, Toledo. scallejas@eresmas.com
Fernández Martínez
Beatriz
B
Méndez Muñoz
Paloma
P
León Martín
M Teresa
MT
Fábrega Alarcón
Carmen
C
Villarín Castro
Alejandro
A
Rodríguez Rodríguez
Oscar
O
de Quirós Lorenzana
Rodrigo Bernaldo
RB
Fortuny Tasias
Ana
A
López de Castro
Francisco
F
Fernández Rodríguez
Olga
O
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D000293:Adolescent; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003267:Contraception; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011275:Pregnancy, Unwanted; D012736:Sex Education; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013030:Spain; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors