Sexual Behavior: Challenges for Prevention and Control Among Medical Students in Mexico

In Mexico, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are the fifth-leading reason to seek medical guidance. Among people aged 15–44 years, STDs are ranked among the top 10 causes of general morbidity. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted at a private university in Mexico from December 2019 to January 2020. A total of 519 surveys were completed by medical students aged 18–24 years (mean age, 19.9 years). The questionnaire asked whether students considered that they had adequate knowledge about STDs, age at sexual intercourse onset, sexual behavior, sexual orientation, use of condoms and contraceptives, and reasons for not seeking STD screening. About one-third (169, 32.7%) reported having insufficient knowledge about STD prevention, 373 students (71.8%) were sexually active; of those, 61.7% (230 students) had never had STD screening, and 116 female students (52.5%) had never had a cervical smear. Most students with an active sexual life (229, 61.4%) reported using condoms for all sexual intercourse. These findings show that half of the young adult population in Mexico becomes sexually active in their teens. A large percentage considers that they have insufficient knowledge about STDs. In Mexico, a large sexually active population does not seek STD screening. Educators should be encouraged to include information about sexual activity in early education courses to ensure healthier sexual outcomes in coming generations. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT04417426