Sexual activity and contraceptive use among secondary-school students in Slovenia

Abstract

Objectives To evaluate sexual activity and contraceptive use among secondary-school students in Slovenia.

Methods A representative sample of 1095 third grade secondary-school students in Slovenia in 2004 was assessed by means of a self-administered questionnaire.

Results The average age of the students was 17.4 ± 0.7 years. Most students had experienced being in love (92%), dating (82%), kissing (87%), caressing (78%) and petting (61%). One half (53%) of them had already had coitus. Homosexual contacts had occurred among 2% of the boys and 11% of the girls. The main reason for the first sexual intercourse was love (44%) but it occurred by chance in 27% of the cases. Contraceptive methods used foremost at first intercourse were the condom (75%) and the pill (7%). Contraceptive methods resorted to on the occasion of the last intercourse were the condom (50%), the pill (32%), a double method whereby a condom is used in addition to the pill (4%), withdrawal (4%), periodic abstinence (1%), emergency contraception (1%), and other methods (1%); no contraceptive measures at all were applied in 7% of the encounters.

Conclusions At the age of 17 about one half of secondary-school students in Slovenia have already had sexual intercourse. Most students resort to effective contraception, but the double method is underused.

Keywords:

• Adolescence
• Sexual intercourse
• Sexual behaviour
• Contraception
• Condom