title: [Adolescents' sexual and reproductive health knowledge and practice in a provincial Colombian town].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Identifying the sexual and reproductive health knowledge and practice of adolescents living in the town of Miranda in the Cauca department of Colombia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Across-sectional, descriptive, observational study was made. The sample involved 406 adolescents. Sociodemographic, knowledge-related and practice-based variables were explored.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The adolescents had high and very high levels of knowledge; 90.5 % of the adolescents had received information about sex and pregnancy; the main source of information came from their parents (67.5 %). Safe sex for 26.7 % of the adolescents meant just using a condom. Regarding their sexuality (practice), 42 % stated that they had had sexual relationships, beginning on average when around 13-years-old. Condom use was the most used protection mechanism. 12.5 % stated that they had used psychoactive substances or alcohol to intensify sexual experience; 87.7 % stated that they would seek counselling or treatment in a hospital or health centre without telling their parents if they contracted a sexually- transmitted infection (STI).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The adolescents involved in this study had high levels of knowledge; however, such knowledge is not enough to stop them beginning their sexual life early and/or increasing the probability of using a condom or contraceptive when beginning their sexual relationships.
authors.affiliation: Investigadores independientes, Cali, Colombia. hrengifo@gmail.com
authors.forename: Herney A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Rengifo-Reina
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Córdoba-Espinal
authors.forename: Mayerlin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Serrano-Rodriguez
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D003105:Colombia; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D060728:Reproductive Health; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D014505:Urban Population