e-ISSN 2329-0072

Logo

Medical
MSM  BR

AmJCaseRep

Risky Sexual Behaviors of Medical Students: A Single-Institution Survey

Marlena Zajaczkowska, Bartłomiej Helman, Aleksandra Piątek, Mateusz Reczek, Katarzyna Jasiak, Monika Talarowska

Med Sci Tech 2014; 55:41-47

DOI: 10.12659/MST.891285

Available online: 2014-07-21

Published: 2014-07-21


#891285

Background: Health – risk behaviors including sexual risky behaviors are associated with main reasons of morbidity and mortality among young people. Medical students will provide professional sexual health counseling to the population and their private habits and attitudes contribute to the ability to promote safe sex as well as the level of knowledge of human sexuality.
Material and Methods: Across sectional study, where self- administered anonymous questionnaires were distributed to 1stto 6th year unmarried medical students (N=200) of Medical University of Łódź, aimed to reveal rates, predictors and interrelations of risky sexual behaviors. The survey included questions about intercourse with random partners, sex under the influence of alcohol or stimulants, unprotected sex, use of condoms, age of initiation, having multiple partners, testing for sexually transmitted diseases and use of paid sexual services.
Results: 143 questionnaires were qualified for analysis (60 males and 83 females). 86.4% of students were sexually active. Rates of risky behaviors in studied group were as follow: 65.7% admit sex after alcohol or other psychoactive substances, unprotected sex have ever had 52.4% of respondents, 14.3% of woman and 37.5% of men have had sexual intercourse with random partner, 5,6% had 4 or more partners last year, 2.8% had initiation before 15 years of age and 2.1% was clients of paid sexual service. 72.2% of sexually active women and 92.3% men use condoms and 30.1% of students have been tested for sexually transmitted diseases.
Conclusions: There were observed gender differences and a self estimated level of sexual arousal was an important predictor of risky sexual behaviors, and associations were found also in case of other factors like place of living, being in relationship and year of studies. Older students reported similar behaviors to younger students, despite unprotected sex which was more often reported in the oldest group in which main reason for it was a reliance on the partner while the youngest pointed to strong passion and partner’s pressure. There were found interrelations between risky sexual behaviors.

Keywords: Sexual Behavior, Students, Medical, Unsafe Sex



Back