Knowledge about Transmission Dynamics of Sexually Transmitted Infections.

Background : Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) disproportionately affect women who also bear much more severe morbidity, get severe consequences if not treated and even transmit disease to offsprings during pregnancy. Improving awareness and knowledge of STIs is a key for prevention but majority females don’t have this information making them more susceptible to STIs and reinfections. Objectives : To determine the awareness and level of knowledge about transmission dynamics of STI among the female patients attending Gynecology out-patient department and to assess the various factors related with it. Methodology : Cross-sectional study was conducted among female patients presenting to Gynecology OPD of a tertiary hospital in Delhi with signs and symptoms suggestive of STIs. Exit interview of 100 patients was done by using a pretested structured questionnaire. Knowledge level was graded into Poor knowledge (0-8) and Good knowledge (9-16) on a 16-point score card. Chi square was applied. Results : Only 62 (62%) patients had heard about STIs. The fact that STIs can be prevented by abstinence, being faithful and condoms was known to 25 (25%), 35 (35%) and 28 (28%) patients respectively. Only 21 (21%) patients had good knowledge, significantly more among literates and working females. Reinfection was reported by 9 (9%) patients and it was significantly more in migrants. Conclusion Knowledge of respondents about STIs is very low, particularly among illiterates and housewives. There is a potential to control STIs by making females aware of the uses of condom. Reinfection was significantly more in migrants, so there is a need to focus IEC services to migrants.

Awareness & Misconcepts about Sexually Transmitted Diseases.

Background : Worldwide sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) continue to be a public health problem. More than 340 million people are infected each year, most of them from developing countries, many women. For prevention it is essential that people know how these disorders occur and how to prevent. Objectives : The present study was conducted to get information about women’s knowledge of STDs, source of their knowledge, misconceptions about mode of transmission and correlation of awareness and misconcepts with age, literacy, socio-economic status in the background of similar information collected a decade back. Material & Method : Information was collected by interview of 1000 randomly included women, by trained social worker with help of structured questionnaire in local language. Results Study revealed that 13% urban and 28.1% rural women had no knowledge et al. In all age groups television was the main source of knowledge. Health personnel were the source of knowledge in 14%. There was no increase in percentage of women who had knowledge of modes of transmission with increasing age. With knowledge in around 73.5% misconceptions were in 21.5%. Misconeptions were like STDs, spread through touching, sharing food and clothing, uncleanliness, urinating in pulic lavatories, excess heat. Conclusion Many women do not have desired knowledge about STDs but need to have. Misconceptions are common. Awareness is essential.

Perception of Undergraduates of University of Port Harcourt towards Use of Condom

Background: Unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infection especially human immunodeficiency virus pose major challenges to the reproductive health of young adults in developing countries. Appropriate use of contraceptives such as condom may play a significant role in reducing the problems. Aim: To assess the perception of undergraduates in University of Port Harcourt towards the use of condom. Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey on the knowledge and use of condom among undergraduates of University of Port Harcourt. A systematic random sampling method was employed. Data collected was analyzed using SPSS version 11. Results: Of the 601 respondents involved in the study; 319 (53.1) were males and 282 (46.9) were females. While 98.9respondents displayed high level of knowledge of condoms; only 59.3of respondents use condoms. Similarly electronic media and peer group provided the major sources of information about condom. Unmarried people use the condom more than married ones. (p= 0.001). The main reasons for condom use for all age groups were prevention of unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STI).While most unmarried respondents purchased their condoms from patent medicine stores and pharmacy; the married ones procured theirs from clinics and hospitals. Conclusion: The perception of these undergraduates towards use of condom is good. Prevention of STI and unwanted pregnancies were the major reasons for condom use among them while peer group and electronic media were important sources of information

[Effect of preventive education of STD based on health belief model in the couples]

Health Promotion and Prevention of disease are two important aims of health programs. Despite many efforts which have been done for health promotion, sexually transmitted diseases is yet one of the societies health problem today. The educational and teaching efforts, can confine these infections which seems health educational models, such as health belief model; has a key role in this matter. This study was a semi - experimental survey conducted in case - control method. Sampling size included 30 couples in each group that was selected randomly. The couples in the experimental group were educated based on health belief model, during two 30 minutes educational sessions and the couples in the control group participated in the routine counseling classes. The data of this research was gathered by a questionnaire in two stages; before and 4 month after education, then was analyzed by SPSS software. The results of this study indicated that there was no significant differences between two groups in demographic characteristics and agent of health belief model [perceived susceptibility, severity, benefits and barriers of STDs]. Comparing of those two groups indicated that after education, there were significant differences between perceived susceptibility [p<0.0001], severity [p<0.0001], benefits [p<0.0001], barriers [p<0.002] and practice [p<0.009]. Findings of this study showed that education through health belief model was effective in preventing STDs. Then this educational model can be applied in educating adolescents and other people for preventing STDs