Knowledge of Sexually Transmitted Infections and Risk Perception among Undergraduates of University of Ibadan, Ibadan, South West, Nigeria
International STD Research & Reviews, Volume 12, Issue 1,
Page 46-58
DOI:
10.9734/ISRR/2023/v12i1155
Abstract
Background: Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) among young adults have continued to be on the increase and serious remain public health concern. The study assessed the knowledge and risk perception of STIs among undergraduate students in the University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
Methods: A total of 1085 students were assessed using a self-administered questionnaire to collect data on socio-demographic characteristics, perceived risk and knowledge on STIs. Data was entered into IBM-SPSS version 23 and analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square test was used to evaluate categorical variables, p < 0.05 considered significant.
Results: Out of 1085 questionnaires distributed, 1050 were returned giving a response rate of 96.8%. Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV) was the most frequently mentioned STI (898, 86.3%). Majority (967, 94.0%) agreed that some STIs manifest with symptoms. The most identified symptom was abnormal vaginal/penis discharge (731, 78.0%). Majority (1006, 97.4%) indicated that STI treatment should be sought first from hospital. Majority (1007, 96.5%) recognized sexually active persons with multiple sex partners are at high risk of STI acquisition, 522 (51.1%) recognized oral sex as a risky behavior. The mean knowledge score of the participants was 8.8±2.7.
Conclusion: Participants identify sexual risky behaviors and practices as predisposal to STIs. There is a knowledge gap of STIs among participants which may be improved by reviewing the educational curriculum of a mandatory course which was participants’ main source of education on STI.
- Sexually transmitted infections
- human immunodeficiency virus
- students
- knowledge
How to Cite
References
Center for disease control and prevention. CDC FACT SHEET: Reported STIs in the United States; 2016a.
Available:https://www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/newsroom/docs/factsheets/STItrends-508.pd. Accessed on 29th February 2020.
World Health Organization. Sexually Transmitted Diseases; 2014. Available:https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/112323/WHO_RHR_14.10_eng.pdf. Accessed on 17th August, 2019.
UNAIDS/WHO. Epidemiological fact sheet on HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections, update. Working group on global HIV/AIDS and STI surveillance; 2004. Available:http://data.unaids.org/publications/fact-sheets01/nigeria_en.pdf. Accessed on 17th September, 2019.
Richard EB, Jay CH. Sexually transmitted infections: the classic infections. In: Walsh PC, Retik AB, Weinberg A.J (eds.), Campbell's Urology 8th edition. Saunders Elsevier, Philadelphia. Chapter. 2002; 17:671-691.
Anwar M, Sulaiman SA, Ahmadi K, Khan TM. Awareness of school students on sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and their sexual behaviour: A cross- sectional study conducted in Pulau Pinang, Malaysia. Bio Med Central Public Health. 2010;10:47. DOI:10.1186/1471-2458-10-47.
Owolabi S. Establishment of STD Health Units. Mediscope. 1985;3:15-17.
Ekşi Z, Kömürcü N. Knowledge level of university students about sexually transmitted diseases. Procedia Social Behavioral Sciences. 2014;122:465–72.
Da Ros CT, Schmidt CS. Global epidemiology of sexually transmitted infections. Asian Journal of Andrology. 2008;10(1):110-114.
De Schryver A, Meheus A. Epidemiology of sexually transmitted infections, the global Picture. Bull WHO. 1990;68:639-654.
Rice PA, Schachter J. Pathogenesis of pelvic inflammatory infection. What are the questions? Journal American Medical Association. 1991;266:2587- 2593.
Chamberlain GVP. Infections during pregnancy. In: Chamberlain Geoffrey(ed), Obstetrics by Ten Teachers, 16th edition. Arnold, London. Chapter. 1995;3:126-135.
Robinson AJ, Ridgwa GL. Modern diagnosis and management of Chlamydia trachomatic infection. British Journal for Hospital Medicine. 1996;55:388-398.
Otolorin E. An overview of maternal mortality in Nigeria. In: Akuse J.T. (ed.), Proceedings of workshop on strategies for the reduction of high maternal mortality. Safe motherhood at the local government level in Nigeria. Tropical Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 1999;52-64.
Amu EO, Adegun PT. Awareness and knowledge of sexually transmitted infections among secondary school adolescents in Ado Ekiti, South Western Nigeria. Journal of Sexually Transmitted Diseases. 2015;1–7. Available:https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/260126
Aliyu A, Dahiru T, Ladan A, Shehu A, Abubakar A, Oyefabi A, Yahaya S. Knowledge, sources of information, and risk factors for sexually transmitted infections among secondary school youth in Zaria, Northern Nigeria. Journal of Medicine in the Tropic. 2013; 15(2):102-106. DOI: 10.4103/2276-7096.12358.
National Intelligence Council. The next wave of HIV/AIDS: Nigeria, Ethiopia, Russia, India and China. Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA) 2002-04D. In Adedimeji AA. Beyond knowledge and behaviour change: The social- structural context of HIV/AIDS risk perceptions and protective behaviour among young urban slum inhabitants in Nigeria. Takemi Programme in International Health. 2005;3-5.
Mmbaga EJ, Leyna GH, Mnyika KS, Klepp K. Knowledge of sexually transmitted infections complications strongly predicts risky sexual behaviours and HIV aerostats: results from rural Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. Sexually Transmitted Infections. 2007; 84(3):6-224.
Makwe E. Awareness of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) including HIV/AIDS among undergraduate students of University of Abuja, Nigeria. British Journal of Applied Science & Technology. 2014;4:705-717. DOI: 10.9734/BJAST/2014/6102
Aliyu AA, Dahiru T, Ladan AM. Knowledge, sources of information, and risk factors for sexually transmitted infections among secondary school youth in Zaria, Northern Nigeria. Journal of Medicine in the Tropics. 2013;15(2):102-106.
Adigun FT, Oluwasegun AJ, Samsudin S, Saudi SN, Osman M, Hamat RA. Assessing the knowledge level, attitudes, risky behaviors and preventive practices on sexually transmitted diseases among university students as future healthcare providers in the central zone of Malaysia: A cross-sectional study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2017;14(2):159. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph14020159.
Zhang D, Pan H, Cui B, Law F, Farrar J, Ba-Thein W. Sexual behaviors and awareness of sexually transmitted infections among Chinese university students. Journal of Infection in Developing Countries. 2013;7:966–974.
Subbarao NT, Akhilesh A. Knowledge and attitude about sexually transmitted infections other than HIV among college students. Indian Journal of Sexually Transmitted Diseases and AIDS. 2017;38(1):10-14.
Thairu Y, Shehu HA, Egenti N. Profile of sexually transmitted infections among students of tertiary educational institution. IOSR Journal of Dental and Medical Sciences. 2015;14(11):71–74.
Bergamini M, Cucchi A, Guidi E, Stefanati A, Bonato B, Lupi S, Gregorio P. Risk perception of sexually transmitted diseases and teenage sexual behaviour: attitudes towards in a sample of Italian adolescents. Journal of preventive medicine and hygiene. 2013;54(2):114–119.
Shapiro J, Radecki S, Charchian AS, Josephson V. Sexual behavior and AIDS related knowledge among community college students in Orange County, California. Journal of Community Health. 1999;24:29–43.
World Health Organization. Sexually Transmitted Diseases; 2019. Available:https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/sexually-transmitted-infections-(stis). Accessed on 17th August, 2019.
Höglund AT, Tydén T, Hannerfors AK. Knowledge of human papillomavirus and attitudes to vaccination among Swedish high school students. International Journal of STD & AIDS. 2009;20:7-102.
Svensson L, Waern S. Knowledge of and attitudes to sexually transmitted diseases among Thai university students; 2013. Available: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Knowledge-of-and-attitudes-to-sexually-transmitted-Svensson-Waern/8867003f20bc1447d406abd6dce766c2ff68ae94. Accessed on 17th August, 2019.
Demis A, Adera A, Workeneh D. Determination of knowledge, attitudes and practices on prevention of sexually transmitted infections among seto semero high school students. MedCrave Online Journal of Public Health. 2017;201(5):142‒153.
Faust L, Yaya S, Ekholuenetale M. Wealth inequality as a predictor of HIV- related knowledge in Nigeria. British Medical Journal Global Health. 2017;2(4): e000461. DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2017-000461.
Zulkifli SN, Wong YL. Knowledge, attitudes and beliefs related to HIV/AIDS among adolescents in Malaysia. Medical Journal Malaysia. 2002;10:3–23.
Abdulraheem IS, Adegboye A, Fatiregun AA. Self-medication with Antibiotics: Empirical evidence from a Nigerian rural population. British Journal of Pharmaceutical Research. 2016;11: 1–13.
Kim YM, Marangwanda C, Kols A. Quality of counselling of young clients in Zimbabwe. East African Medical Journal. 1997;74(8):4–5.
Koster A, Kemp J, Offei A. Utilization of reproductive health services by adolescent boys in the eastern region of Ghana. African Journal of Reproductive Health. 2001;5(1):9-40.
-
Abstract View: 15 times
PDF Download: 8 times