Protska Natallia Nikolaevna

Diagnosing the Exposure to Risky Sexual Behavior and Assessing the Risk of Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Key-words: risky sexual behavior, exposure to risky sexual behavior, individual and collective risk of sexually transmitted infections, prophylaxis of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

Aim of study: to provide a diagnostical base for individual primary prophylaxis of risky sexual behavior and sexually transmitted infections.

Subjects, materials, and methods: 577 individuals aged 15-19 years old have been examined using questionnaires. There were 3 groups of subjects: students, patients of dermato-venerological dispensary, and God believers. The following statistical methods have been used: difference analysis, correlational analysis, cluster analysis, dispersion analysis; reliability, validity, representativity, diagnostic efficacy analysis, medico-social efficacy of the developed method.

Results: Signs related to morality, satisfaction, and exposure to risk are considered to be the markers of exposure to risky sexual behavior. 4 groups of subjects exposed to risky sexual behavior have been identified and characterized. The method for diagnosing the exposure to risky sexual behavior has been developed based on interviewing and taking into account two indices. The methods for assessing the individual and collective risk of STDs have been developed on the basis of the given indices. Validity, reliability, representativity, and diagnostic efficacy of the developed method have been evaluated. Expected prevented damage while working with 1000 young men and women aged 15-19 years old considering STDs risk is 10 878 000 Belarusian Rubles. When covering the whole population of the given age in the Republic of Belarus it would be minimum 7 700 000 000 Belarusian Rubles (in prices of 2008).

Recommendations for use: the method is aimed at diagnosing young men and women aged 15-19 years old for identifying the subjects exposed to risky sexual behavior and assessing individual and collective risk of STDs. It allows the differential approach to the primary prophylaxis of STDs and significantly increases its efficacy.

Fields of application: medicine, pedagogics, psychology.