Greek students' knowledge and sources of information regarding sex education.
BACKGROUND
Human sexuality is a complex part of life and is considered a multidimensional phenomenon. Therefore there is an increased need for adequate and comprehensive sex education, especially for teenagers and young adults.


OBJECTIVE
The main aim of the study was to evaluate the level of students' sexual knowledge, as well as to identify their sources of information regarding sexual life and reproduction.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study using a designed self-report questionnaire was performed. The study population consisted of 936 students who were attending 10 high schools and four medical schools in Attica. Data were collected after obtaining permission from the Pedagogic Institute of the Greek Ministry of Education.


RESULTS
The main sources of students' sexual information about reproduction were friends (29.1%) and parents (24.0%), whereas school was reported by 14.3% of them. The preferred sources of information, according to students' perceptions, were sex education specialists (65.6%), followed by school (39.1%), parents (32.2%) and friends (27.7%).


CONCLUSIONS
The importance of school, peer and parent support upon adolescents' sexual life was revealed by the results of the study. Students' knowledge level on sex topics is not satisfactory and therefore there is a need for sex education specialists and special courses regarding sex education in Greek schools.
Matziou
V
V
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece. vmatziou@nurs.uoa.gr
Perdikaris
P
P
Petsios
K
K
Gymnopoulou
E
E
Galanis
P
P
Brokalaki
H
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D033062:Friends; D006115:Greece; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D012574:Schools; D012577:Schools, Medical; D012736:Sex Education / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012737:Sex Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult