The Determination of Health School Students’ Knowledge, Attitudes and Behaviors on the Matter of Sexual Health in Eastern Turkey

Abstract

This study aims to determine health school students’ level of sexual knowledge, sources of information, attitudes and behaviors on the matter of sexuality. The research was carried out among the students of Yuzuncu Yil University School of Health, Van, Eastern Turkey. The research was descriptive and cross-sectional. The survey form used for data collection includes questions on socio-demographic features, knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of students on sexual health. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS v.18. It was found that 8% of girls, 35.1% of boys had sexual activity and 10.6% of the girls, 24.7% of the boys had incomplete sexual activity. Analysis reveal that there were significant differences between men and women about their report premarital sexuality, premarital sexual activity of boys and girls (in the past), know the meaning of masturbation, thoughts and feelings about masturbation, beliefs realted with the obligatory obediance of the sexual demands and expectation of virginity from spouse when married. We have concluded that health school students’ sexual knowledge is insufficient, their behaviors and attitudes are influenced by traditional approaches and understanding of sexuality differs between two genders. © 2016 Yuzuncu Yil Universitesi Tip Fakultesi. All rights reserved.