Sexually transmitted diseases knowledge, and related influential factors among males

Objective: To determine the knowledge and related factors of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) of male personnel of Baskent University. Methods: A self-reported questionnaire was given to male personnel between September 2006 and September 2007. Informed consent was obtained from the participants (n=594). Questionnaires were sent to each department’s chief, and retrieved in closed envelopes without any sign on it. Data was analyzed by SPSS 11.5 statistical software program, Pearson chi-squre and t-test were applied and a P < 0.05 value was considered as statistically significant. Results: Mean age of the participants was 33.4 (SD±7.0). 88.6% (n=527) of the participants were executive staff, while 11.3% (n=67) was academic personnel. 76.3% (n=453) was married, and 36.5% (n=217) was graduated from high-school. Participants were asked to define how they gained their STDs knowledge. Most of them (%51) reported that they had this knowledge from media (newspapers, television, radio, magazines, internet etc.); 33.6% from primary care health system, and 21.2% from close relatives. As the education level increased, media became more marked as a knowledge source (P=0.000). Married men mostly obtained their STDs knowledge from their close relatives (P=0.020). Of men who stated that their partners were their knowledge source 95% was married (P=0.015). Reported rates of primary care health system as an information source was 58% for primary school graduates, 34.5% for high-school graduates, and 7.5% for college graduates (P=0.000). Of males who gained their STDs knowledge from primary care, 86% was married, and 14% single (P=0.000). Close relatives effect on STDs knowledge decreased as educational level increased (P>0.05), and more pronounced (73%) in married men (P>0.05). Conclusion: Both primary care and media are effective related factors on STDs knowledge among males. Primary care health givers and media should corporate to improve the knowledge, and attitude about STDs.