Sexual and reproductive health of adolescents in Belgium, the Czech Republic, Estonia and Portugal

Ins Fronteira, Miguel Oliveira Da Silva, Vit Unzeitig, Helle Karro, Marleen Temmerman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Objectives: This pilot study, within the REPROSTAT 2 Project, aimed at investigating the sexual and reproductive health SRH of school-based youths in four countries of the European Union. Methods: Students of either sex, aged between 16 and 19 years and entering grade 10, 11 or 12 during the 20052006 school year participated in a cross sectional survey. A structured questionnaire was administered to a convenience sample of students from selected schools in Belgium, the Czech Republic, Estonia and Portugal. Results: In each country, more than three quarters of respondents had previously had a boyfriend or girlfriend and almost half had heterosexual intercourse. More than 85 of sexually experienced youths in each country had used contraception at coital debut. Mean age at coital debut varied between 15.2 Belgium and 16.4 years Czech Republic. While 51 of respondents in Estonia knew of Chlamydia trachomatis infection, the corresponding figure in Portugal was only 12. Conclusions: Sexual activity is common among school-going youths in all four countries. This highlights the need for Member States to systematically collect indicators of SRH in this population. Use of a common measurement framework can inform the establishment of common targets for joint initiatives such as reducing teenage pregnancy and STIs in adolescents.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)215-220
Number of pages6
JournalEuropean Journal of Contraception and Reproductive Health Care
Volume14
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2009
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Adolescents
  • Chlamydia
  • Sexual and reproductive health
  • Sexual behaviour
  • Young people

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