Risk factors for sexually transmitted infections in adolescents in rural areas
Keywords:
Risk factors; sexually transmitted infections; adolescence; prevention y controlAbstract
Introduction: Risky sexual behaviors in adolescents in rural areas are a multifaceted problem influenced by a combination of factors such as lack of adequate sexual education, early initiation of sexual activity, low risk perception, and limited access to health services.
Objective: To identify risk factors for sexually transmitted infections in adolescents studying in public institutions belonging to the Guano canton in the Chimborazo province.
Material and Methods: A quantitative, observational, descriptive, non-experimental, and cross-sectional study was conducted between February and March 2024 in public educational institutions in rural areas of the Guano Canton, Chimborazo Province, Ecuador. The study population consisted of 194 adolescents aged 12 to 18 years who were enrolled in the educational institutions included in the study during the 2023–2024 academic year.
Results: The results show that 49.61% of the adolescents included in the study were between 12 and 14 years old; 46.55% were boys, while 50.39% were between 15 and 18 years old. Also, 16.28% of the sample lived in the absence of one of the parents, mainly affecting boys (20.69%). Moreover, 14.73% of adolescents consumed alcohol and 4.75% used psychoactive substances, with a higher prevalence in boys. In addition, 55.81% received little or no sexual education at home.
Conclusions: Limited sex education and family emotional support, along with alcohol consumption, are significant environmental factors for the development of behaviors that increase vulnerability to STIs. The findings allow to identify early sexual initiation, insufficient condom use, and a history of STIs as priority areas of risk.
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