Abstract

SAETEROS HERNANDEZ, Rosa del Carmen; PEREZ PINERO, Julia  and  SANABRIA RAMOS, Giselda. Sexuality experiences of university students. Rev Cubana Salud Pública [online]. 2013, vol.39, suppl.1, pp. 915-928. ISSN 0864-3466.

Introduction: one of the keys to healthy and pleasurable sexuality and to full satisfaction in intimate relationships is to have proper sexual education. Objective: to identify the sexuality experiences of university students. Methods: a cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted during 2009 - 2010 at Higher Polytechnic School of Chimborazo in Ecuador. A survey was designed to find out the general features, behaviors, knowledge, opinions and information sources in sexuality. Data were collected using a web-based survey system in a probabilistic sample stratified by faculty, focus groups and through answers of students to questions and concerns on the topic. Results: the student population was young, most of them were sexually active and unmarried; differences in sexual behavior predominated according to sex and male students were more likely to facing sexual risk. In terms of knowledge, they had difficulties in understanding the meaning of sexuality; they did not know the sexual and reproductive rights and effective measures to prevent sexually transmitted infections. In fact, 17.86 % had never used condom in their sexual intercourses. Their opinions showed that the traditional way of thinking about sexual issues was still there. Their main source of information was their friends and the most preferred topics were related to erotism, sex pleasure, reproduction and prevention of sexually transmitted infections. Conclusions: sexual education is poor or nonexistent among young university students and their families, the university and the various socializing spaces. It does not appear to be one of the formative cores at university education.

Keywords : sexuality experiences; young university students; sexual behaviors; knowledge on sexuality; opinions and sources of information in sexuality; sexual education at the university.

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