Knowledge of sexually transmitted diseases among secondary school students in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Knowledge of sexually transmitted infections and its associated factors among polytechnic college students in Southwest Ethiopia

Introduction

sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are infections that are transmitted from one person to another through sexual contact, and most of them are easily preventable and treatable. Global trends in STIs have increased. Sub-Saharan Africa carries a high burden of STIs, including HIV. Knowledge about STIs is very significant for preventing the adverse outcomes of young adult reproductive health. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the knowledge of sexually transmitted diseases and its associated factors among polytechnic college students in Southwest Ethiopia.

Methods

a cross-sectional study was conducted among 453 randomly selected students at Mizan-Aman polytechnic college in Southwest Ethiopia from April 1^st to 30^th, 2018. The data were collected through self-administered structured and pre-tested questionnaire. The collected data were entered using EPI-DATA version 4.2.0.0, and analyzed using SPSS version 20 statistical software.

Results

of the 453 participants, 177 (39.1%) had good knowledge about STIs. The study also found that being male (AOR = 1.72, 95% CI [1.12-2.86], P = 0.025), increased year of study (AOR = 3.65, 95% CI [1.69-8.43], P = 0.002), having one or no sexual partner (AOR = 1.53, 95% CI [1.35-3.56], P = 0.005), and source of information from mass media (Television/Radio) (AOR = 2.76, 95% CI [1.78-4.56], 0.013) were factors that associated with an increased level of knowledge about STIs.

Conclusion

the proportion of good knowledge about sexually transmitted infections was substantially low. Therefore, strengthening information, education, and communication (IEC) on the issue using health clubs and mass media (Television/Radio) is highly recommended. In addition, inculcating the sexual and reproductive health course in the educational curriculum plays a paramount importance.

Knowledge and risk perception of sexually transmitted infections and relevant health care services among high school students in the Platfontein San community, Northern Cape Province, South Africa

Background

The historically marginalized Platfontein San youths have a high rate of teenage pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The aim of the study was to assess the knowledge and perception of male and female school-going youths in Platfontein of STIs and HIV/AIDS, and the health care services that are available to them.

Participants and methods

A descriptive cross-sectional survey with a sample of 201 learners in grades 6–12 at the !Xunkwesa Combined School in Platfontein was conducted in July 2007. A pretested self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection.

Results

The study found that STI knowledge was 70.1% and HIV and AIDS was 11.9%. Perceptions of risk among the learners were uniformly low; 24% for contracting a STI and 26% for HIV. About 59% (n=119) of the respondents were either unaware or not sure of the primary health care (PHC) services within the community. Overall, 65% of the students reported using PHC services while 35% exclusively used traditional healers. Slightly less than half (43%) of the learners acquired information about sexual and reproductive health through the Life Skills curriculum at school.

Conclusion

The study highlights the importance of increasing HIV awareness and inculcating sexual and reproductive health into the school curriculum. The study further shows the imperative need to recognize the role of traditional medicine in the health care choices of this community. Traditional value systems need to be incorporated into the way that education and health care is proposed to the community leaders, to increase acceptance and utilization of health services.

Prevalence of self-reported symptoms of sexually transmitted infections, knowledge and sexual behaviour among youth in semi-rural Tanzania in the period of adolescent friendly health services strategy implementation

Background

Global evidence shows that sexually transmitted infections (STIs) prevalence and sexual risk behaviours are high among youth, and knowledge about STIs is low. In Tanzania, there is limited recent evidence regarding these issues. The aim of this study was to describe the health seeking behaviour of youth reporting STI symptoms in semi-rural Tanzania and to evaluate the association of socio-demographic characteristics, STI knowledge and sexual risk behaviour with STI symptom reporting.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study involving 2251 sexually experienced youth (15–24 years), who participated in a larger baseline survey of a cohort within Ifakara town. Interview data were electronically collected by trained field workers. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors that influence the risk of reporting STI symptoms within the past year, using Stata 12.1.

Results

The prevalence of self-reported STI symptoms in the past year was 19.9%. Almost all of youth had heard of STIs and 32.7% of youth could mention at least one sign. 34.4% had sought care for their STI symptoms, the majority at private facilities. Only 20% of HIV-STI co-infected youth was aware of their HIV status.

Youth with more knowledge of STI symptoms reported to have had symptoms more often (OR = 1.28; 95% CI 1.01–1.62), and those reporting having first sex at 16 or under were more likely to report STI symptoms than those who delayed to 17–19 years (OR 1.27; 95% CI 1.003–1.62).

Conclusion

These findings highlight the need to improve the implementation of Adolescent Friendly Health Services available in Tanzania (especially in semi-rural areas). The inclusion of private facilities and pharmacies in AFHS scale-up would potentially raise the level of STI knowledge, lower the STI prevalence and reduce HIV incidence among youth.