Description
Sexual knowledge, attitudes and behavior among Danish adolescents
Christian Graugaard, MD, Ph.D. & Lisbeth B. Knudsen, MA,
Background: Surveys concerning sexual knowledge, attitudes and behavior of Danes are scarce, and opposed to neighboring countries such as Sweden and Great Britain, nationwide investigations among the general population haven’t been conducted for decades. However, interesting survey data concerning the sexuality of adolescents have recently been attained by the National Board of Health.
Material and methodology: A total of 10,000 adolescents aged 15-24 were randomly selected and contacted by letter. The youngsters were invited to fill out an on-line questionnaire with 45 items concerning sexual knowledge, attitudes and behavior. The response rate was 38%, and a total of 3,695 replies were included in the study.
Results: The survey revealed interesting data on coital début, sexual activity, and use of contraceptives among Danish youngsters. Moreover, it provided useful data on risk behavior with regard to STDs and unwanted pregnancies. Finally, the respondents were asked to evaluate normative questions such as homosexuality, infidelity, pornography, prostitution, and advanced sexual practices.
Conclusion: Exhaustive data concerning the sexual conduct and Quality of Life of Danes are still missed. However, this study provides an interesting insight into the sexual lives of Danish adolescents, and it offers a solid foundation for future research in the area.
Key words: Scandinavia, sex survey, adolescent sexuality, sexological research: Socio-cultural
Emneord: Sexual knowledge, sexual behavior, sexual attitudes, Denmark, adolescents
| Period | 25 Jun 2009 |
|---|---|
| Event title | World Congress for Sexual Health: Sexual Health & Rights: A Global Challenge |
| Event type | Conference |
| Conference number | 19 |
| Organiser | Swedish Association for Sexology |
| Location | Gøteborg, SwedenShow on map |
Keywords
- Sexual knowledge, sexual behavior, sexual attitudes, Denmark, adolescents