Sexual media literacy and preventive behaviors about sexually transmitted diseases among youth in university students Chon Buri Province, Thailand

Authors

  • Saowanee Thongnopakun Faculty of Public Health, Burapha University
  • Titikan Buarod Faculty of Public Health, Burapha University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14456/dcj.2019.37

Keywords:

sexual media literacy, behaviors, sexually transmitted diseases, adolescent, university

Abstract

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are a significant health problem among youth. Sexual media literacy is a significant factor related to preventing STDs. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to examine sexual media literacy and preventive behaviors regarding STDs among university students. The participants were 485 male and female university students aged >18 years. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire, analyzed using descriptive statistics, and presented to show the frequency, percentage, mean, minimum, maximum, and standard deviation (SD). Correlations were determined using chi-squared statistical methods. The results revealed that 86.4% of university students are heterosexual, 62.1% had sexual intercourse, and 17.9% viewed sexual media at least five times per week. More than half had access to internet pornography. Only one-fifth had good sexual media literacy. Nearly half of the students exhibited inappropriate behaviors toward preventing STDs. Significant factors that correlated with preventative behaviors included sex (p<0.001), gender (p=0.031), living situation (p=0.014), relationships with casual partners (p<0.001), frequency of using sexual media (p=0.018), and sexual media literacy (p<0.001), with a statistical significance of 0.05. The results showed that youth with low sexual media literacy were more likely to exhibit inappropriate preventive behaviors regarding STDs. Stakeholders, therefore, must work toward improving sexual media literacy, specifically regarding inappropriate preventive behaviors regarding STDs, especially for youth who live alone or with their sexual partner.

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Published

2019-12-25

How to Cite

1.
Thongnopakun S, Buarod T. Sexual media literacy and preventive behaviors about sexually transmitted diseases among youth in university students Chon Buri Province, Thailand. Dis Control J [Internet]. 2019 Dec. 25 [cited 2024 Apr. 24];45(4):402-1. Available from: https://he01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/DCJ/article/view/172595

Issue

Vol. 45 No. 4 (2019): October-December

Section

Original Article

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Articles published in the Disease Control Journal are considered as academic work, research or analysis of the personal opinion of the authors, not the opinion of the Thailand Department of Disease Control or editorial team. The authors must be responsible for their articles.