Association between Knowledge of Sexually Transmitted Infections and Sources of the Previous Point of Care among Nigerians: Findings from Three National HIV and AIDS Reproductive Health Surveys

Background. Adequate knowledge of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is critical for effective control of disease. Health education/counselling at the point of care provides ample opportunities to improve knowledge of patient seeking treatment. There is no study from Nigeria that investigates association between sources of previous point of care of STI and quality of knowledge of people on STI. We hypothesised that previous treatment of STI will be associated with better knowledge of STI and HIV infection. Methods. Three consecutives nationally representative cross-sectional surveys on HIV and AIDS Reproductive Health in Nigeria, conducted in 2005, 2007, and 2012 were analysed. Outcome measures were knowledge of STI only, and a combined knowledge of STI and HIV transmission and prevention. We designed a knowledge scale of 14-item questions for STI and 41-item questions for STI and HIV. Logistic regression was used to identify risk factors at 5% significance level. Results. Knowledge of STI increased from 13.4% in 2005 to 15.0% in 2007 to 26.5% in 2012. Respondents that received treatment from pharmacy and patient medicine vendors had higher odds of good knowledge of STI than those who did not receive any treatment (aOR = 2.55) in 2005. In 2012, respondents treated at health facilities were over two times likely to have good knowledge of STI and HIV transmission and prevention (aOR = 2.35). STI positive individuals in the highest economic class were two times likely to have good knowledge of STI and HIV transmission and prevention than those in the lowest class. Conclusion. Participants that previously sought care from health facilities, pharmacy, and patient medicine vendors had better knowledge of STIs and HIV infection prevention and transmission than those who sought care from unorthodox sources. We recommend a national awareness creation on STI prevention including provision of information on safe point of care for STIs in Nigeria.

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Sexually transmitted infections among HIV positive patients: a five year retrospective study

International Journal of Research in Dermatology ◽

10.18203/issn.2455-4529.intjresdermatol20184724 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. 23

Author(s):

N. Saravanan ◽

Murugan Swamiappan ◽

Rajkumar Kannan ◽

G. Arul Raja

Keyword(s):

Hiv Infection ◽

Sexually Transmitted Infections ◽

Tamil Nadu ◽

Clinical Manifestations ◽

Hiv And Aids ◽

People Living With Hiv ◽

Hiv Patients ◽

Sexually Transmitted ◽

Number Of Patients ◽

Clinical Records

Background: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are the most well established risk factors for the spread of HIV infection. STIs act as cofactors and facilitators for HIV transmission. The effects of HIV infection on immunity can increase susceptibility to other STIs. The aims and objectives of the study were to determine the prevalence of co-infection of sexually transmitted infections among people living with HIV and AIDS.Methods: A retrospective chart review of the data collected from the clinical records of all HIV patients who had attended the STI clinic of Chengalpattu Medical College, Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu during the five years period, from January 2013 to December 2017, was carried out. Demographic data, clinical manifestations, co-infection of STIs among HIV patients, laboratory investigations and treatment were collected. The data collected were computed and analyzed statistically.Results: During the study period of 5 years from 2013 to 2017 the total number of patients attended the STI clinic were 10825, among that males were 4534 (41.88%) and females were 6291 (58.12%). STIs/RTIs were seen in 2560 (23.65%) cases among the total number of patients attended. HIV was found to be positive in 294 cases, in that 168 (57.15%) were males and 126 (42.85%) were females. In male HIV patients, 51 (30.36%) had co-infection with other STIs/RTIs. In female HIV patients, 57 (45.24) % had co-infection with other STIs/RTIs. Viral STIs was the common co-infection seen in males and vaginal cervical discharge was common in females.Conclusions: STI/RTI co-infection, both symptomatic and asymptomatic are common among PLHIV. Hence they should be regularly counselled regarding the significance of periodic screening for STI/RTIs avoidance of high risk sexual behaviour.

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Determinants of Contraceptives Uptake among Adolescents’ Girls Aged 14-19 Years in Homa Bay County

East African Journal of Health and Science ◽

10.37284/eajhs.4.1.436 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

pp. 1-15

Author(s):

Stephen Owende Owoko ◽

Eddy Okoth Odari ◽

Daniel Mokaya

Keyword(s):

Reproductive Health ◽

Sexually Transmitted Infections ◽

Adolescent Girls ◽

Health Facilities ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Health Service Provision ◽

Sexually Transmitted ◽

Unintended Pregnancies ◽

Youth Friendly ◽

Youth Friendly Services

Introduction. Adolescents are individuals aged between 10-19 years. This phase is characterised by rapid growth, sexual maturation, and sexual exploration. These behaviours expose sexually active adolescent girls to a greater risk of unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortion, and sexually transmitted infections. This study aimed to assess the determinants of contraceptives uptake among adolescent girls in Homa Bay County in Kenya with specific objectives assessing the level of awareness, uptake as well as evaluating the factors affecting the sexual & reproductive health service provision to adolescent girls in the region. Result: A cross-sectional survey was done targeting 385 girls and 32 health facilities. The response rate was 100%, with the level of knowledge on contraceptives at 97.6%. The main sources of knowledge on contraceptives were from teachers in schools (30%), peers (17.2%) and media. 70% of the respondents were in a heterosexual relationship of which 58.6% preferred male condom use as their contraceptive method of choice, while the use of pills was the least at 0.6%. The majority (57.9%) of the girls did not practice safer sex exposing them to a higher risk of Sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancies. Discussions: The level of contraceptive uptake significantly varied from one sub-county to the other (p < 0.005), with the sub-counties in the Islands of Lake Victoria such as Suba sub-counties having up to 80% lesser chance of their girls using any form of contraceptives (OR = 0.2; CI: 0.2–0.8). Major barriers were the fear of side effects (51.8%) and self-stigmatisation (13.4 %). Health facilities were the main source of contraceptives (77.1%); however, the study noted a lack of youth-friendly services that would favour increased access. Further, there was a complete lack of knowledge on adolescent sexual and reproductive health policies and procedures among the girls (39.6%). Conclusion: Misinformation, cultural perception on the use of contraceptives among adolescents, and lack of youth-friendly services in health facilities are key drivers to the underutilisation of contraceptives by adolescent girls in Homabay county. Adolescents from the island stand a higher risk of non-utilisation of contraceptives compared to their mainland counterparts. Recommendations: There is a need for strengthened youth-friendly comprehensive sexual health education and services in all health facilities with more emphasis on risk reduction interventions and sensitisation of young girls on the available policies. Mechanisms should be availed, specifically to reach the “hard to reach” adolescent populations in the islands.

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“The condom broke and I’m tired of worrying about HIV”

HIV ◽

10.1093/med/9780190088316.003.0001 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Sybil Hosek ◽

Raphael J. Landovitz

Keyword(s):

At Risk ◽

Hiv Infection ◽

Sexually Transmitted Infections ◽

Hiv Transmission ◽

Drug Regimen ◽

Transmission Risk ◽

Sexually Transmitted ◽

Preexposure Prophylaxis ◽

Seamless Transition ◽

Hiv Transmission Risk

Potential nonoccupational exposures to HIV should be considered as emergencies and access to postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) is urgently required. There is no need to wait for initial HIV testing results before dispensing PEP because a 3-drug regimen is being used. For patients who remain at risk of HIV infection during or after the course of PEP, a seamless transition from PEP to preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is ideal along with appropriate testing for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. There also is no need to have a “break” between PEP and PrEP, particularly if HIV transmission risk is ongoing. Interval testing before again prescribing medications is needed.

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Sexually Transmitted Infections and HIV Transmission: What Do We Know?

10.21617/jprm2021.314 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

pp. 8-13

Author(s):

Mpundu Makasa ◽

◽

Charles Michelo ◽

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

At Risk ◽

Hiv Infection ◽

Sexually Transmitted Infections ◽

Health Problem ◽

Hiv Transmission ◽

Public Health Problem ◽

Mixed Infections ◽

Infection Transmission ◽

Sexually Transmitted

Sexually transmitted infections have remained a public health problem mainly in the developing world, where the burden of HIV is also high. Effects of sexually transmitted infections can be devastating and have also been shown to enhance transmission of HIV. The risk of transmission depends on the type of infection, whether it presents with an ulcer or it is it is only inflammatory. Mixed infections further increase the probability of HIV transmission, making the overall risk even higher. Understanding the dynamics of transmission is important. It is also essential to know which groupsof people are more at risk as this is fundamental in designing appropriate control interventions. This article gives an overview of sexually transmitted infections, and gives insight on their association with HIV infection, transmission risks and some control based interventions. In addition we also aimed to increase the understanding of where preventive and management gaps may still exist and in what contexts

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