Sexual and reproductive health in adolescents: validation of the questionnaire SexContraKnow instrument in Italian

BACKGROUND: Adolescents have an inadequate level of health literacy, particularly regarding sexual and reproductive health and the use of birth control methods. This contributes to a high percentage of unintentional pregnancies and sexual behaviors that endanger the entire population. AIM: The purpose of this study is to validate the questionnaire, Sexcontraknow Instrument, in Italian, in order to evaluate the health literacy of adolescents, aged 14 to 19, regarding sexual and reproductive health, particularly on the use of contraceptive methods. METHODS: This is a quantitative research study that aims to validate a knowledge tool on sexual and reproductive health in the adolescent population. RESULTS: The Sexcontraknow Instrument questionnaire has been translated according to the process indicated by the EORTC Quality of Life Group validation criteria. The linguistic validation of the questionnaire in Italian was carried out using the forward-backward translation method. The content validity process was carried out by a group of 9 experts in the area of sexual education addressed to the study population, such as: doctors, midwives, gynecologists, teachers and health assistants. The face validity process, however, was carried out with a sample of convenience made up of 12 students aged 14 to 19 years, homogeneous in the gender. CONCLUSIONS: The SexContraKnow Instrument questionnaire has been transalated in Italiana and face and content validity has been performed. NURSING IMPLICATIONS: Having a tool that help evaluate the knowledge of young people, aids the nurse in preparing and making up for shortcomings through proper education, reducing the negative effects of poor literacy.