[Association of knowledge about STD and level of schooling among conscripts upon enlistment in the Brazilian Army, Brazil, 2007].
The scope of this study was to describe knowledge of military conscripts about STD in relation to level of schooling upon enlistment in the Brazilian Army. A self-administered questionnaire with demographic and clinical aspects, forms of transmission, sexual behavior and access to STD information was applied in a national sample in 2007. Variables associated with low schooling were: being 19-20 years old [OR=1.2(95%CI:1.18-1.32)]; saying that STD can be transmitted by: eating contaminated food [OR=2.2(95%CI:1,96-2.55)]; bathing in rivers/beaches [OR=1.5(95%CI:1.27-1.88)]; mosquito bites [OR=1.5(95%CI:1.38-1.65)]; sexual intercourse <=14 years old [OR=1.4 (95%CI:1.33-1.55)]. Variables inversely associated with low schooling were: being white [OR=0.9 (95%CI:0.82-0.91)]; stating that STD can be transmitted by: sharing syringes/needles [OR=0.7(95%CI: 0.62-0.78)]; mother-to-child transmission [OR=0.6(95%CI:0.58-0.69)]; having used a condom in the last sexual intercourse [OR=0.8(95%CI:0.71-0.85)]; being MSM [OR=0.7(95% CI: 0.60-0.92)]; knowing that sex without condoms increases risk of transmission [OR=0.4 (95%CI:0,37-0,51)]. Given the association of low schooling with less knowledge about STD, educational policies geared to this population are needed because they are more vulnerable.
Núcleo de Doenças Infecciosas, Departamento de Medicina Social, Centro Biomédico, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitoria, ES, Brazil. espinosa@ndi.ufes.br
Angelica Espinosa
AE
Miranda
Denis
D
Ribeiro
Erika Fazito
EF
Rezende
Gerson Fernando Mendes
GF
Pereira
Valdir Monteiro
VM
Pinto
Valeria
V
Saraceni
D000293:Adolescent; D001938:Brazil; D017280:Condoms; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult