IS LOVE BLIND? DATING VIOLENCE PROTECTION AND RISK FACTORS PERCEPTION AMONG TEENAGERS IN THE CITY OF CÁDIZ, SPAIN

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: The last numbers released in a national survey in Spain show that a 25% of girls in Spain have been victims of dating violence, which as been related with different serious health problems. We wanted to evaluate the grade of information about Equality and Gender Violence phenomenon in our adolescents in Cádiz as a basis for future community interventions programs. METHOD: This is a transversal observational study conducted in a urban area in public and private schools with adolescents matriculated in the year of 2014-1015 in the 3rd and 4th grade of ESO. Questionnaires were made to 1037 students of 13 schools in the city of Cádiz, selected with a sampling multistage (alpha error 5%, precision 3%, predicting 30% of loses). The questionnaires were anonymous with the previous informed consent. Variables: Sexism Detection Scale, Abuse Perception Scale, Romantic Myths Scale, Dating Violence Information and Knowledge Scale. As quantitative variables: main measure and dispersion analysis and as qualitative variables: proportions analysis. Bivariate analysis: Chi square. Statistics Program: R-UCA 3.0.1. CI 95%, alpha 0,05. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: An important part of the sample studied maintains sexists ideas (34% agree with benevolent as well as hostile sexist ideas). Also, 39,6% believes in the romantic myths that perpetuate teen dating violence. The grade of knowledge was good (72,7%), but still many can’t identify the correct cause of Dating Violence and has a low abuse risk perception. From Primary Care, the detection of possible risk relationships among adolescents could reduce consequential health problems, such as toxics abuse, depression or even suicide.