Department of Environmental Science and Health, Faculty of Applied Sciences, National University of Science and Technology, Bulawayo.
Curationis. 2022 Jul 28;45(1):e1-e5. doi: 10.4102/curationis.v45i1.2191.
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a major public health challenge, particularly in developing countries where the health infrastructure is often poor. Despite having a number of interventions in Beitbridge (such as the 24-h wellness centre), Zimbabwe, the incidence and prevalence of STIs is increasing.
This study, therefore, aims to assess the risk factors associated with the high incidence of STIs in urban Beitbridge.
A case-control study was conducted on 30 respondents who had suffered from STIs (selected from the registers at Beitbridge hospital and followed up) and 90 respondents who had not suffered from STIs (from the community) who resided in Beitbridge for at least 6 months and this excluded all those who were in transit. The factors contributing to the high incidence of STIs were identified using a pretested interviewer-administered semi-structured questionnaire in conjunction with a Likert scale to establish the attitudes and risk behaviours of the respondents on STIs.
A significant association was observed between high STI incidences and the nature of occupation (odds ration [OR]: 3.8), area of residence (OR: 2.78), number of sexual partners (OR: 7.56), payment demanded for sex (OR 22), condom use (OR: 3.7), alcohol use (OR: 2.86), and suspicion that partners had other sexual companions (OR: 15.5). Furthermore, a larger proportion of controls were knowledgeable on STIs as compared to the cases who participated in the study.
There is a need to develop awareness strategies that foster safe sexual practices, particularly among populations who do not choose abstinence or a single sexual partner lifestyle.
性传播感染（STIs）是一个主要的公共卫生挑战，特别是在卫生基础设施通常较差的发展中国家。尽管在比勒陀利亚（例如 24 小时保健中心）采取了一些干预措施，但津巴布韦的 STIs 发病率和患病率仍在上升。
因此，本研究旨在评估与比勒陀利亚市 STIs 高发相关的危险因素。
对 30 名患有 STIs 的患者（从比勒陀利亚医院的登记册中选择并进行随访）和 90 名未患有 STIs 的患者（来自社区）进行了病例对照研究，这些患者在比勒陀利亚居住至少 6 个月，排除所有过境人员。使用预先测试的访谈者管理半结构式问卷以及李克特量表来确定导致 STIs 高发的因素，以确定受访者对 STIs 的态度和风险行为。
观察到高 STI 发病率与职业性质（优势比 [OR]：3.8）、居住地（OR：2.78）、性伴侣数量（OR：7.56）、性交易要求的报酬（OR：22）、使用避孕套（OR：3.7）、饮酒（OR：2.86）和怀疑伴侣有其他性伴侣（OR：15.5）之间存在显著关联。此外，与参与研究的病例相比，对照组中有更多的人对 STIs 有了解。
需要制定提高认识的策略，特别是针对那些不选择禁欲或单一性伴侣生活方式的人群，促进安全的性行为。
