title: Knowledge of sexually transmitted diseases and sexual behaviours among Malaysian male youths.
abstract: This study examines the knowledge of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among male youths in Malaysia. A self-administered survey was carried out on a sample of 952 never-married males aged 15-24 years. The respondents were asked about their knowledge of STDs, how these diseases get transmitted and their sexual behaviours. The data showed that 92% of the respondents knew of at least one STD (syphilis, gonorrhoea, chlamydia, herpes, genital warts, yeast infection, trichomoniasis or HIV/AIDS). About 95% of them knew of at least one method of STD transmission. Urban and tertiary-educated male youths showed a substantially higher proportion of awareness of STDs and transmission methods compared with their rural and less-educated counterparts. The data also indicated that 10% of the study sample admitted to having had sexual experiences. There were still a large proportion of the respondents who were not aware of STDs other than syphilis and HIV/AIDS and the means of transmission, such as multiple sex partners, including those who claimed to be sexually active. Thus there is a need for more concerted efforts to disseminate information on STDs and transmission methods to a wider audience in Malaysia, especially youths in rural areas.
authors.affiliation: * Stamford College, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Halimah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Awang
authors.affiliation: † Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Li Ping
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: ‡ Faculty of Economics and Administration, University of Malaya, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Rohana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jani
authors.affiliation: † Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Wah Yun
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Low
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003710:Demography; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult