Hutton-Nyameaye Araba Ata, Asiamah Morrison, Asafo-Adjei Karikari, Benneh Charles Kwaku, Kwakye Adwoa Oforiwaa, Mensah Kofi Boamah, Duedu Kwabena Obeng, Buabeng Kwame Ohene
Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmacy Practice, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ashanti Region, Ghana.
Department of Pharmacy Practice, School of Pharmacy, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Volta Region, Ghana.
PLOS Glob Public Health. 2024 Jul 1;4(7):e0003422. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0003422. eCollection 2024.
The burden of Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) remains a public health problem that should be addressed considering its effect on society and close association with HIV. This study aimed to determine the knowledge and prevalence of common STIs and associated risk factors among adult patients seeking STI care in health facilities in Ho Municipality. This was an analytical cross-sectional study involving 178 adult clients seeking treatment for suspected STIs, from November 2020 to April 2021. Data on participants' demographic characteristics, knowledge and health-seeking behaviour for STI therapy was obtained. Urine and blood samples were also taken from each participant for microbiological screening to identify the infecting pathogen and the specific STI. Multiple logistic regression and chi-square analyses were used to test the significance of associations. Of the 178 participants, 71.91% (n = 128) were women and 61.24% (n = 109) were unmarried. About 13% (n = 23) had poor knowledge of STIs. Prevalence of the STIs was 24.72% (n = 44) of which gonorrhoea was the highest 11.24% (n = 20), followed by chlamydia 10.11% (n = 18) and syphilis 7.30% (n = 13). Of all the participants, 3.37% (n = 6) had co-infections with at least 2 pathogens. Infection with all three pathogens was observed in a single participant. Participants who were married were associated with 61% reduced odds of sexually transmitted infection compared to participants who were unmarried (AOR = 0.39; Cl = 0.17-0.89). Participants who smoked had 6.5 times increased odds of the infection compared to nonsmoking participants (AOR = 6.51; Cl = 1.07-39.56). Although knowledge of STIs was high, it did not appear to contribute to lowering of the prevalence. This suggests there may be other factors other than awareness or knowledge driving STIs. There is an urgent need for further studies to ascertain the drivers of STIs beyond knowledge and awareness in the public.
性传播感染(STIs)的负担仍然是一个公共卫生问题,鉴于其对社会的影响以及与艾滋病毒的密切关联,应加以应对。本研究旨在确定霍市医疗机构中寻求性传播感染治疗的成年患者对常见性传播感染的知晓情况、患病率及相关风险因素。这是一项分析性横断面研究,在2020年11月至2021年4月期间,纳入了178名因疑似性传播感染而寻求治疗的成年患者。收集了参与者的人口统计学特征、对性传播感染治疗的知晓情况和就医行为数据。还从每位参与者采集了尿液和血液样本进行微生物筛查,以确定感染病原体和具体的性传播感染类型。采用多元逻辑回归和卡方分析来检验关联的显著性。在178名参与者中,71.91%(n = 128)为女性,61.24%(n = 109)未婚。约13%(n = 23)对性传播感染的知晓情况较差。性传播感染的患病率为24.72%(n = 44),其中淋病患病率最高,为11.24%(n = 20),其次是衣原体感染,为10.11%(n = 18),梅毒为7.30%(n = 13)。在所有参与者中,3.37%(n = 6)感染了至少两种病原体。有一名参与者感染了所有三种病原体。与未婚参与者相比,已婚参与者感染性传播感染的几率降低了61%(调整后比值比[AOR] = 0.39;可信区间[Cl] = 0.17 - 0.89)。与不吸烟的参与者相比,吸烟的参与者感染几率增加了6.5倍(AOR = 6.51;Cl = 1.07 - 39.56)。尽管对性传播感染的知晓率较高,但这似乎并未有助于降低患病率。这表明除了意识或知识之外,可能还有其他因素推动性传播感染的传播。迫切需要进一步研究以确定公众中性传播感染传播的驱动因素,而不仅仅是知识和意识方面。