Sexual Knowledge in Academic High School Students

Sung, Myung Sook; Song, Byung Sun

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to identify the positive aspects of sexual knowledge in high school students. METHOD: The participants were 1,106 students from two high school in Hong Cheon, Korea. Data were collected between June 1st and June 30th, 2001. Collected data were analyzed using the SPSS program to investigate responses to a structured questionnaire. RESULT: The level of sexual knowledge in the high school students was 13.83 (range 1 to 19). In terms of the response distribution for sexual knowledge by items, the correct response rate was highest for "wet dream", and the incorrect response rate was lowest for "sexually transmitted disease". There were significant differences in sexual knowledge according to the general characteristics of gender and grade (women: 14.07, men: 13.48; 12th grade: 14.52, 11th grade: 13.92, and 10th grade: 13.12). It was found that there were significant differences in sexual knowledge according to method of sex education, teacher, and effect of sex education. CONCLUSION: The level of sexual knowledge in high school students was low; thus, more effective methods to enhance the sexual knowledge of men students on sexually transmitted diseases and contraception are needed.