Programa educativo para mejorar conocimientos, actitudes y prácticas en salud sexual y reproductiva en adolescentes rurales

Abstract

Background: Knowledge on sexual and reproductive health (SRH) among adolescents reaches 38%; the pregnancy rate has increased to 22,94% in rural areas. Effective comprehensive programs haven’t been evaluated in SRH, so an educational program is necessary to reinforce the actions in adolescent health. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of an educational program in improving knowledge, attitudes and practices in SRH of rural adolescents. Method and materials: An opened experimental study was developed from March 2011 to February 2012. The universe was composed of all adolescents in the rural parishes of Cuenca, the sample was stratified by parish, representative and random, the data were collected in a previously validated questionnaire, the information was processed in SPSS. Results: 120 students were randomized and 60 were assigned to the intervention group and 60 to control, 40% were women and 60% male. Before the intervention the study and control groups were statistically similar, but after the intervention there were statistically significant differences. Knowledge improved with the intervention in 27,45% (p 0.000), attitudes on 17,96% (p 0.000) and practice 7,96% (p 0.019) but not in the control group. Conclusions: The educational program designed from pre-CAPS and the deconstruction of myths significantly improves the knowledge, attitudes and practices in SRH of rural adolescents.