Introduction:

overcoming the medical and social problems related to STIs will be more difficult if the young adult population is not well informed with sound knowledge, good attitudes and practices.

Objective:

to evaluate the level of knowledge, attitudes, risk behaviors and preventive practices about sexually transmitted diseases in young adults between 18 and 40 years of age in Paraguay.

Methodology:

an observational, analytical, cross-sectional study was carried out in 406 young adults between 18 and 40 years of age. A survey was carried out where sociodemographic data, knowledge and attitudes, practices and preventive behaviors on STIs were collected. It was analyzed whether there are differences in knowledge according to sociodemographic characteristics.

Results:

the mean age was 27.6±2.1 years, 74.3% were female and 58.9% students. The level of knowledge about STIs was adequate at 62.3%. HIV/AIDS was the most well-known STI (98%). Viruses were the organisms most recognized as the cause of an STI (84.5%). Itching around the vagina was the most recognized symptom (64%). The most known complication of an STI was cervical cancer (84.2%). 62% recognized that the condom protects against STIs and that it is the best tool for it. Only 47.6% are tested for STIs annually. Women and university graduates had better knowledge about STIs than the rest.

Conclusion:

although there is good knowledge, other STIs, forms of transmission, consequences, prevention and risk behaviors are still unknown.

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