Percepción del riesgo de contraer una enfermedad de transmisión sexual en población joven / Perception of the risk of adquire a sexually transmitted disease in a young population

Objetivo: Conocer la percepción del riesgo de contraer una enfermedad de transmisión sexual (ETS) en jóvenes de 15–21 años y sus actitudes y sus conductas para adoptar medidas protectoras en las relaciones sexuales. Diseño: Estudio cualitativo de tipo socio constructivista realizado entre 2006–2008.EmplazamientoDos centros de atención primaria de la ciudad de Girona. Participantes: Treinta y cuatro jóvenes seleccionados de listados proporcionados por médicos e informantes clave. Métodos: Muestreo teórico a partir de diferentes perfiles diseñados. Los datos se obtuvieron y se saturaron con la realización de 5 entrevistas grupales. Se realizó un análisis de contenido categorial temático del corpus narrativo. Resultados: Tienen conocimientos parciales sobre sida y escasos sobre otras ETS. El riesgo de embarazo es lo que más influye en la adopción de conductas protectoras. A pesar del buen acceso y el conocimiento del preservativo, en algunos casos no lo usan ni en parejas estables, ni en parejas esporádicas con diferentes justificaciones para realizar estas conductas de riesgo. Tienen muy poco contacto con los servicios sanitarios, la mayoría de las veces para pedir la anticoncepción de emergencia. Conclusiones_ Las estrategias sanitarias deberían encaminarse al acercamiento a los adolescentes de acuerdo con lo que necesitan de los servicios sanitarios en relación con la salud sexual en un contexto diferente del centro de salud. La información debería centrarse en combatir creencias erróneas, como que el sida es una enfermedad de “otros” y no “nuestra”, y focalizar estas actuaciones no sólo en mejorar conocimientos y actitudes, sino en cambios de conducta (AU)

Objective: To find out the perception of the risk of adquire a sexually transmitted disease (STD) in young people (15–21 years), and their attitudes and behaviour to adopt protective measures in sexual relationships. Design: Socio-constructive qualitative study performed between the years 2006 and 2008SettingTwo Primary Care Centres in the city of Girona. Participants: A total of 34 young people selected from lists provided by doctors and key informers. Methods: Theoretical sample from different designed profiles. The data was obtained and saturated by performing 5 group interviews. A thematic content analysis of the narrative data was made of the categorical subject. Results: They had partial knowledge on AIDS and very little on other STD. The risk of pregnancy has the most influence on adopting protective measures. Despite easy access and knowledge of condoms, in some cases they are not used either in stable relationships or in sporadic ones, with different reasons for having this risk behaviour. They have limited contact with the health services, and when they do it is mainly to ask for emergency contraception. Conclusions: Health strategies should be directed towards adolescents, taking into account what they need from the health services as regards sexual health, in a different context from the health centre. Information should be focused on combating erroneous beliefs, such as AIDS is a disease of “others” and not “ours”, and address these actions, not only to improve knowledge and attitudes but also changes in behavior (AU)

[Perception of the risk to adquire a sexually transmitted disease in a young population]. / Percepción del riesgo de contraer una enfermedad de transmisión sexual en población joven.

OBJECTIVE: To find out the perception of the risk of adquire a sexually transmitted disease (STD) in young people (15-21 years), and their attitudes and behaviour to adopt protective measures in sexual relationships. DESIGN: Socioconstructive qualitative study performed between the years 2006 and 2008 SETTING: Two Primary Care Centres in the city of Girona. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 34 young people selected from lists provided by doctors and key informers. METHODS: Theoretical sample from different designed profiles. The data was obtained and saturated by performing 5 group interviews. A thematic content analysis of the narrative data was made of the categorical subject. RESULTS: They had partial knowledge on AIDS and very little on other STD. The risk of pregnancy has the most influence on adopting protective measures. Despite easy access and knowledge of condoms, in some cases they are not used either in stable relationships or in sporadic ones, with different reasons for having this risk behaviour. They have limited contact with the health services, and when they do it is mainly to ask for emergency contraception. CONCLUSIONS: Health strategies should be directed towards adolescents, taking into account what they need from the health services as regards sexual health, in a different context from the health centre. Information should be focused on combating erroneous beliefs, such as AIDS is a disease of "others" and not "ours", and address these actions, not only to improve knowledge and attitudes but also changes in behaviour.