Comparison of Knowledge, Attitude and Sexual Behavior Between High School Students Who Did and Did Not Participated in Friend Corner Project

Abstract

Background: Adolescence is a period that has problem in both biological, psychological and social adaptation. Abnormal adolescent behavior is still a major problem in Thai society. Department of Mental Health organized Friend Corner Project (FCP) since 2004 and has helped alleviate the adolescent problems, especially in sexual behavior.

Objective: To compare knowledge, attitudes and sexual behavior between high school students who did and did not participate in FCP (Friend Corner Project).

Methods: This study recruited three hundred and eighty students from high schools in Nakhonratchasima province school by multiple stage stratified random sampling. One hundred seventy-three students participated in FCP activies and two-hundred sero-seven did not. Data was collected using self-administrated questionnaires during June 1^st and June 30^th, 2011. Statistical analysis included descriptive, Chi-square, t-test and Pearsonûs Correlation Coefficient. Hypothesis testing was set at α level = 0.05.

Result: Adolescents who participated in FCP had significantly better knowledge about sex than those who did not (P < 0.001). Most of both groups knew little about signs and symptoms of sexual transmitted infections. Regarding attitudes toward sex, both groups had moderate levels of attitude which was not statically significant different. Both groups agreed that having sexual intercourse with their boyfriends or girlfriends had less risk of contracting AIDS than with sex workers. Regarding sexual behavior, both group were of low risk which was not statically significant different. Significant factors associated with participation in FCP were occupation, education, parental marital status, residence of parents, getting sexual information from television, and spending leisure time in playing sport.

Conclusions: Participating in FCP activities was associated with better knowledge about sex among high school students in Nakhonratchasima province. Attitude and sexual behavior had no significant association with participating in FCP. Although, the explanation of the association was not clearly demonstrated, this kind of activities could help adolescents know better about sex and live more appropriately in the society.