Level of knowledge about contraception and prevention of sexually transmitted diseases among students of the Medical School of the Universidad Abierta Interamericana - Sede Rosario (Argentina), year 2023

Introduction: Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) constitute an important public health problem worldwide, being condoms the fundamental weapon for protection against STDs. Objective: To describe the level of knowledge about contraception and prevention of sexually transmitted diseases of students from 1st to 3rd year of medical school at the Universidad Abierta Interamericana - Rosario campus in the year 2023. Materials and methods: Quantitative, observational, descriptive, cross-sectional and retrospective study, carried out at the Universidad Abierta Interamericana (UAI), Rosario, Argentina, from December 2022 to May 2023. The population consisted of students studying from the first to the third year in the first four-month period of the Medical School. The data collection instrument consisted of a survey consisting of 21 questions on contraception and STDs. The variables were summarized through measures of central position (mean) and measures of dispersion (range and standard deviation) and expressed in absolute and relative frequency. Results: A total of 70 students were analyzed of which 77% (n=54) were female and 23% (n=16) were male. The mean age was 24.6 ± 5.02 years. Sixty-four percent (n=45) belonged to the third year of medicine, 29% (n=20) to the second year and 7% (n=5) to the first year. The mean score obtained was 16.75 ± 2.01 points. Seventy-six percent had a high level of knowledge and 24% medium. The population under 25 years of age had better knowledge than the population over 25 years of age. Similarly, women and third year students have better levels of knowledge. In relation to the function, choice, classification and form of use of contraceptive methods, the students had an average of 8 ± 0.98 correct answers, which represents a high level of knowledge about contraception. Regarding the concept, form of transmission, signs and symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, complications and preventive measures of STDs the students had on average 8.73 ± 1.49 correct answers, representing a medium level of knowledge about STDs. Conclusions: Of the 70 UAI medical students surveyed, there was a higher participation of women under 25 years of age. Of these students, 76% had a high level of knowledge about contraception and STDs