Nível de informação sobre adolescência, puberdade e sexualidade entre adolescentes

Objective: the objective of this research was to evaluate the level of knowledge about adolescence, pubertal development and sexuality among adolescents from 10 to 14 years old at municipal public schools in Feira de Santana-Bahia, 2000. Methods: cross-sectional study, with a randomized and proportional sample out of a population of 6,419 students in the municipal Public System. The level of knowledge was analyzed according to age, sex and educational level. Data was collected by means of a specific confidential questionnaire, which was pre-tested. A scale of values (score - satisfactory, reasonable and unsatisfactory) was established according to the percentage and proportional number of right answers regarding general and specific topics. Statistical inference was calculated by chi-square (χ 2 ) with a significance of 5% as well as the bivariate and multivariate analysis, calculating the simple and adjusted prevalence, through stratified analysis.