title: Randomized questionnaire based cross-sectional research study on awareness of sexually transmitted diseases amongst the general population between those who completed their high school education and those who have not.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are a very important health challenge for adolescents. Educational level, especially sex education in school, prevents the adolescents falling prey to these diseases.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare the awareness of STDs among general population with below and above high school qualification.
  
  
  METHODS
  A simple randomized, cross-sectional, questionnaire based study on the awareness of STDs on out-patients and in-patients of Saveetha Medical College and Hospital of 6 months duration was conducted. About 150 subjects participated in the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  About 77.8% of those who completed schooling had good awareness of STDs. Statistical analysis had shown the formal education to high school level is statistically significantP= 0.0068 (P < 0.05) in people falling prey to the STDs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The initiation of formal education about sex education at the school level can improve the present status and lead to better prevention of STDs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Skin and STD, Saveetha Medical College, Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: C R V
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Narasimhalu
authors.affiliation: Department of Skin and STD, Saveetha Medical College, Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Jegadeesan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Muhilan
keywords: Adolescents; condoms; high school; sex education; sexually transmitted diseases