Balbeesi Amal, Mohizea Saad
Department of Dermatology, King Khalid University Hospital, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
J Egypt Public Health Assoc. 2017 Dec 1;92(4):235-239. doi: 10.21608/EPX.2018.22045.
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are increasingly becoming one of the most important health challenges , especially among women, as they bear long-term consequences such as infertility and cervical cancer owing to STIs. This study aimed to assess the knowledge and misconceptions of Saudi women about STIs.
A descriptive study was conducted among adult women attending the dermatology clinic at King Saud University Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for reasons other than STIs. They were randomly approached and asked to complete an anonymous prevalidated questionnaire. Uneducated females were guided by an interviewer during the filling up of the survey questionnaire. Of 1150 women approached, 843 adult Saudi women responded to the survey (response rate: 73.3%).
The mean age was 30.6±10.9 years. Knowledge of STIs was highest for HIV (85.9%) and lowest for genital warts (17.0%). Respondents believed that genital pruritus, foul discharge, and painful micturition are symptoms of STIs (71.1, 69.1, and 56.4%, respectively). A considerable percentage believed that STIs are transmitted by masturbation (54.8%), sleeping on contaminated beds (39.3%), and by eating and drinking from contaminated utensils (26.3%) whereas 8% believed that STIs are transmitted by shaking hands. Nearly two-thirds of women thought that condoms protect against STIs. Knowledge on the modes of transmission and symptoms of STIs was significantly correlated with younger age, higher level of education, and higher monthly income.
Despite the huge campaigns and information about STIs seen on the internet and television by these women, there is still scarcity of knowledge on the more important aspects of STIs, especially the recognition of clinical features and modes of transmission/spread of STIs. There is still a need for health authorities to intensify information-dissemination campaigns about STIs to the grassroots level, particularly among women in Saudi Arabia.
性传播感染（STIs）日益成为最重要的健康挑战之一，尤其是在女性中，因为性传播感染会带来诸如不孕和宫颈癌等长期后果。本研究旨在评估沙特女性对性传播感染的认识和误解。
对因非性传播感染原因前往沙特阿拉伯利雅得国王沙特大学医学城皮肤科诊所就诊的成年女性进行了一项描述性研究。随机邀请她们并要求她们填写一份预先验证过的匿名问卷。未受过教育的女性在填写调查问卷时由一名访谈员指导。在邀请的1150名女性中，有843名成年沙特女性回应了调查（回应率：73.3%）。
平均年龄为30.6±10.9岁。对性传播感染的认识中，对艾滋病毒的知晓率最高（85.9%），对尖锐湿疣的知晓率最低（17.0%）。受访者认为生殖器瘙痒、异味分泌物和排尿疼痛是性传播感染的症状（分别为71.1%、69.1%和56.4%）。相当比例的人认为性传播感染可通过自慰传播（54.8%）、睡在受污染的床上传播（39.3%）以及通过使用受污染的餐具饮食传播（26.3%），而8%的人认为性传播感染可通过握手传播。近三分之二的女性认为避孕套可预防性传播感染。关于性传播感染传播方式和症状的知识与较年轻的年龄、较高的教育水平和较高的月收入显著相关。
尽管这些女性在互联网和电视上看到了大量关于性传播感染的宣传活动和信息，但在性传播感染更重要的方面仍缺乏知识，尤其是对性传播感染临床特征和传播方式的认识。卫生当局仍有必要将性传播感染的信息传播活动强化到基层，特别是在沙特阿拉伯的女性中。
