The association between young people's knowledge of sexually transmitted diseases and their behaviour: A mixed methods study

Abstract

Current public health policy in the UK aims to reduce STDs in young people by raising their awareness of these diseases, yet there has been little research in this country to show that increased knowledge of STDs results in safer sexual behaviour. This study used questionnaire surveys and focus groups to investigate the knowledge of STDs and sexual behaviour of college and university students in the UK. The young people in this study were shown to have high levels of knowledge of STDs, yet they still behaved in a risky manner. There was no evidence to suggest a general trend in safer behaviour with higher levels of knowledge. This suggests that raising awareness of STDs will not substantially reduce risk-taking behaviour.

Keywords:

• Sexually transmitted diseases
• young people
• knowledge
• sexual behaviour
• mixed methods