Analysis of High-Risk Sexual Behavior among Polish University Students

Abstract

High-risk sexual behavior consists of activities and habits that put a person at increased risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or unplanned pregnancy. Poland is currently experiencing a problem with increased STI rates, largely due to poor sexual education. Our exploratory study aims to evaluate the sexual behavior of students attending universities across Poland. The study covered 7678 students from 50 different faculties and universities across the country. The authors created an original questionnaire which consists of 31 questions which, among others, included demographic factors, sexual initiation, high-risk sexual behavior, STI’s and religious beliefs. 78% of students have participated in sexual activity, among them 19% of students had ‘casual sex’ consisting of intercourse without the use of a condom, 27% had participated in sexual intercourse after the consumption of alcohol. Our study found that students who are influenced by religious belief tend to engage in sexual activity into their later years. The groups most exposed to the consequences of risky sexual behavior are mostly homosexual men, bisexual women, art students, and military students. Alcohol consumption is a strong factor contributing to risky sexual behavior. Sexual education in Poland should be improved.

Risky Sexual Behavior and Associated Factors Among Sexually-experienced Adolescents in Bangkok, Thailand: Findings From a School Web-based Survey

“…This difference with the Bangkok study may be due to varying socio-demographic and cultural context between the two study areas. A study in South Korea [23], found that only 5% of high school students were sexually active, which is in stark contrast to a study in the Poland where more than 78% of students attending universities had ever had sex [24]. It is not clear whether these wide differences in sexual activity are attributed to different de nitions of sex, time period, or other differences among sample populations and data collection methods.…”

Risky sexual behavior and associated factors among sexually-experienced adolescents in Bangkok, Thailand: findings from a school web-based survey

“…This difference with the Bangkok study may be due to varying socio-demographic and cultural contexts between the two study areas. A study in South Korea [ 23 ], found that only 5% of high school students were sexually active, which is in stark contrast to a study in the Poland where more than 78% of students attending universities had ever had sex [ 24 ]. It is not clear whether these wide differences in sexual activity are attributed to different definitions of sex, difference in age of the samples, or other artifacts of the studies.…”

Patterns of University Students’ Risky Sexual Experiences and Their Characteristics

“…The findings set the direction for research carried out in groups of adolescents around the world, including students. The largest part of studies related to risky sexual behaviours in this group concerned the following issues (most often considered together): early sexual initiation, frequency of vaginal, oral and anal unprotected intercourse, number of sexual partners, sexual contacts with random partners and the use of contraception [ 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 ]. The basic conclusion drawn from the research is that students are a group who is particularly prone to engaging in risky sexual behaviours.…”

“…They were usually individual determinants: related to the characteristics of the respondents (e.g., gender, age, sexual orientation) or experiences of other risky behaviours (e.g., getting drunk, using drugs, participating in fights, participating in discos [ 26 , 29 ]. The social context, including family and peers, was taken into account much less often [ 22 , 24 , 26 , 27 ]. Some studies also concerned the relation between childhood abuse [ 30 ] and attachment style [ 31 ] in terms of risky behaviours.…”

“…The nationwide (online) study of students reveals that 78% of the respondents are sexually active, 19% have experiences of casual sex, and 27% had intercourse while intoxicated with alcohol. The groups most exposed to risky sexual behaviours are mainly: homosexual men, bisexual women, art and military students, and people who drink alcohol [ 22 ].…”