Extraordinarily Fun Training Project in Compulsory Secondary Education - Sexually Transmitted Infections

Project FEDE-ITS will improve the STI knowledge and its treatment, of adolescents in the 1st and 2nd year of compulsory secondary education in the intervention group compared to compared to the control group, and will modify the sexual risk practices and the perception of risky practices of alcohol and other drug use during sex of participants in the intervention group compared to the control group.

Background: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a public health problem. Every day, more than 1 million people are infected worldwide, most of whom are asymptomatic. The most common STIs are chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and trichomoniasis, which are easily curable. Other highly prevalent infections are genital herpes and human papillomavirus. However, there is no clear evidence regarding the effectiveness of interventions. Due to the serious epidemiological situation regarding sexually transmitted infections, actions are needed to mitigate the exponential growth in the incidence of these infections.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of an intervention on sexual education in pupils of 1st and 2nd year of Compulsory Secondary Education (ESO), assessing the knowledge about the five most prevalent STIs, the knowledge of barrier methods, and practice of STI risky behaviours.In addition, to analyze whether biological sex conditions the role of submission in women versus the role of dominance in men.

Trial Design: Cluster randomised clinical trial.

Location: It will be carried out in the Basic Health Area of Sant Andreu de la Barca (Baix Llobregat Nord), Balaguer (Noguera), Alcarràs (Segrià) and Barcelona (Barcelona), in Catalonia, Spain.

Participants: Students enrolled in secondary education schools in ESO 1st and 2nd years who meet the selection criteria.

Instruments: As an intervention to be evaluated, an innovative educational methodology with a gender perspective will be carried out on adolescents through discussion with photographs, posters and a short film. No training intervention will be carried out in the control group during the study period, following the instructions of the Department of Education of the Generalitat of Catalonia.

Variables: Evaluation in both groups of knowledge, attitudes and risk practices related to STIs through a pre-intervention, post-intervention and post-post-intervention questionnaire validated in previous studies.

Applicability: The aim is to explore new educational methods to improve knowledge, attitudes and risk practices for STIs in future sexual relationships. Gender-sensitive training could contribute to freer and more egalitarian relationships and reduce the likelihood of violence against women that develops in adolescence.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* pupils in the 1st and 2nd years of compulsory secondary education in the municipalities of Sant Andreu de la Barca, Balaguer, Alcarràs and Barcelona
* prior authorisation of the school administration,
* prior authorisation of the pupil
* prior authorisation of the parents/legal guardians by submitting the information sheet and collecting the informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

* pupils refusing to participate
* families refusing to participate
* school administration refusing to participate