Sex misinformation and misconceptions among Chinese medical students in Hong Kong

Abstract

Sex knowledge and attitudes of 97 Chinese undergraduate medical students were assessed by ratings on a set of belief statements. The results of their responses indicated two salient dimensions of health concern and sex as unclean, reflecting areas of gaps in sex knowledge as well as misconceptions traceable to traditional Chinese beliefs on the association between health and semen. Respondents also reported relying more on the public media than health professionals as a source of sex information. Implications for sex education in general and for medical students in particular are discussed.