Abstract

Our goal was to describe knowledge of military conscripts related to STDs. A self-applied questionnaire with demographic characteristics and STD clinics; knowledge of transmission modes and preferred access to information about STDs was applied. Variables associated with outcome were: being 19–20 years [OR 1.2 (95% CI 1.18 to 1.32)]; STD transmission by eating contaminated food [OR 2.2 (95% CI 1.96 to 2.55)], for bathing in rivers / beaches [OR 1.5 (95% CI 1.27 to 1.88)]; by mosquitoes [OR 1.5 (95% CI 1.38 to 1.65)], and for having sexual intercourse ≤14 years [OR 1.4 (95% CI 1.33 to 1.55)]. The variables were negatively associated: being white [OR 0.9 (95% CI 0.82 to 0.91)], namely the transmission by sharing syringes and needles [OR 0.7 (95% CI 0.62—to 0.78)], by transmission from mother to child during childbirth and breastfeeding [OR 0.6 (95% CI 0.58 to 0.69)], using a condom at last sex [OR 0.8 (95% CI 0.71 to 0.85)]; MSM [OR 0.7 (95% CI 0.60 to 0.92) and know that sex without condom use increases the risk of transmission [OR 0, 4 (95% CI 0.37 to 0.51)]. STD education programs must be dynamic and comprehensive, involving teens, their parents and educators, once isolated knowledge about modes of transmission of STD is not enough to help protect.