Description of the Level of Knowledge and Attitudes of Adolescents in the Prevention of Sexually Transmitted Infections

di SMA Negeri 1 Abiansemal

Abstract

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) are a type of infectious disease transmitted through sexual intercourse, including vaginal, oral, and anal contact. The incidence of STIs among the productive age group, especially adolescents, has continued to increase over time and remains a significant health issue due to its substantial impact on future health. This study aimed to describe the level of knowledge and attitudes of adolescents toward the prevention of Sexually Transmitted Infections at SMA Negeri 1 Abiansemal. This study employed a quantitative descriptive design with a sample of 248 students from grades X–XI selected using the Proportionate Stratified Random Sampling technique. Data were collected using questionnaires and analyzed descriptively through frequency distribution. The results showed that most respondents were 16 years old, totaling 123 respondents (49.6%), and 154 respondents (62.1%) were female. The majority of respondents had a good level of knowledge, totaling 198 respondents (79.8%), and most respondents demonstrated positive attitudes toward the prevention of Sexually Transmitted Infections, totaling 197 respondents (79.4%). Positive attitudes toward STI prevention among adolescents are influenced by the level of knowledge, exposure to health information, and the school environment, which plays a role in providing reproductive health education. Therefore, continuous health education is needed to strengthen knowledge and foster more optimal attitudes among adolescents in the prevention of Sexually Transmitted Infections.