Impact of socio-environmental factors on the state of knowledge among teenagers aged 14 to 18 years regarding symptoms of diseases of the male genital organs

Introduction:
Diseases of the male genital organs are a serious clinical problem, and the frequency of their occurrence is continuously rising. The most common diseases related to the structure and functioning of the male genital organs are: acute scrotum syndrome, phimosis, cryptorchidism, balanoposthitis, and testicular hydrocele. Although these diseases most frequently affect patients aged 4 to 17 years, boys are often afraid of a physical examination, so they hide the ailments and the circumstances of the injury, unaware of the possible medical complications. The aim of the study was to analyse the impact of socio-environmental factors on the state of knowledge among teenagers aged 14 to 18 years regarding symptoms of diseases of the male genital organs.

Material and methods:
The research was conducted using a study questionnaire. Inclusion criteria were male gender and age between 14 and 18 years. The questionnaire contained 21 questions: 19 closed and two open. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics and the χ² test.

Results:
Statistical analysis revealed a significant relationship between knowledge of the structure and diseases of the male genital organs and age and type of school.

Discussion and conclusions:
The respondents demonstrated a low level of knowledge with regard to the structure and diseases of the male genital organs. They experienced difficulties in correctly identifying symptoms for specific diseases. A particular problem is the high level of shame, which translates into a lack of appropriate causal treatments. Therefore, during the period of school education, appropriate measures should be implemented to raise awareness and the level of knowledge with regard to symptoms of particular diseases of the male genital organs. Meanwhile, medical personnel should place particular emphasis on correctly conducting preventive (periodical) examinations, taking into consideration the need to respect the privacy and dignity of the young patient, and not neglecting discussions on difficult and intimate topics.