71 CONGRESO AEP. Libro de comunicaciones

439 ISBN: 978-84-09-79209-2 ÁREA DE ESPECIALIDAD (MEDICINA PEDIÁTRICA)  MEDICINA DEL ADOLESCENTE #1992 COMUNICACIÓN ORAL What do teenagers know about contraception and sexual health? Armanda João Rebelo, Marta Carvalho, João Filipe Nico, Filipa Inês Cunha, Mariana Flórido Hospital Distrital da Figueira da Foz, Portugal INTRODUCCIÓN Y OBJETIVOS Sexual health is a crucial aspect of teenagers’ well- being, directly shaping their life trajectories. However, signi- ficant gaps remain in teenagers’ knowledge on this subject. This study aims to evaluate the level of knowledge teena- gers have on contraception, sexual and reproductive health. MÉTODOS A descriptive observational study was conducted using anonymous questionnaires completed by teenagers atten- ding pediatric consultations between September and De- cember 2023. Statistical analysis of clinical and epidemiolo- gical data was performed. RESULTADOS A total of 154 questionnaires were collected. The mean age of participants was 16 ± 2 years, and 68.8% were fe- male. The vast majority (96.8%) considered it important to include sexual health education in school classes, although 78.6% reported feeling sufficiently informed about the topic. The most cited sources of information were teachers (56.5%), parents (46.1%) and health professionals (28.6%). The internet was named as an information source by 24.7%, while 7.8%mentioned personal experience. Most teenagers (90.9%) recognized condoms as a contraceptive method, 79.9% identified oral contraceptives, and 11.7%were aware of intrauterine device. Among females, 45.3% reported using contraceptive methods, with dysmenorrhea cited as the main reason for use, in 14.9%. Only 56.5% of teenagers identified hospitals as places to access contraceptives. A significant portion of participants (96.1%) believed that the choice of contraceptive method should be a shared decision between both partners in a relationship. Similarly, 96.8% acknowledged both pregnancy and sexually transmitted in- fections as risks of unprotected sexual activity. While 90.3% of teenagers stated they were aware of sexually transmit- ted infections, only 64.3% acknowledged condoms as the method of choice to prevent them. CONCLUSIONES A significant percentage of teenagers (78.6%) feel sufficiently informed about sexual health. While 90.9% of teenagers recognize condoms as a contraceptive method, only 64.3% of them associate condoms with sexually trans- mitted infections’ prevention. The findings highlight the need for consistent and comprehensive educational inter- ventions on contraception and sexual health. Implementing systematic approaches in both schools and healthcare set- tings could enhance teenagers’ understanding on these important issues, and empower them to make informed decisions regarding their reproductive health.