Sexually transmitted infections based on syndromic approach and risk behavior factors in Ethiopia

Abstract

Introduction: Sexually transmitted infections constitute a major public health problem worldwide. They are important because of their magnitude, potential complications, and interactions with HIV/AIDS. Due to this fact, the National HIV/AIDS Policy of Ethiopia identified STI prevention and control as one of the strategies to prevent and control HIV/AIDS. In order to fill the critical information gap on STI, Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI) has established a national STI surveillance system in selected sentinel health facilities, since 2011.

Objective:To determine the proportion of respondent with sexually transmitted infections syndroms.

Method: From July 2014 to June 2015, a cross sectional study was carried out in 20 sentinel health facilities to determine the proportion of respondent with Urethral discharge, Vaginal discharge, Lower abdominal pain, Inguinal Bubo, Scrotal swelling, Genital ulcer disease and their HIV status.

Result: Nearly 67% of the participants werein the age group 20-34yrs and 68% of them were females. From 1421 participants, 441 male and 968 female; 1333(93.8%) were diagnosed with one symptom and 88 (6.2%) with two symptoms; vaginal discharge constitutes the highest proportion (52.2%) followed by urethral discharge (25.3%), lower abdominal pain (13.3%), non-vesicular GUD (4.6%) and vesicular GUD (2.7%).The participant’s sexual history for the past three months was assessed and 17.4% of them had sexual contact with a non-regular partner and of them 55.8% have not used condom during the last contact. In addition, HIV status was reported by 1118 (78.7%).

Conclusion: Our findings indicated that, the major symptoms are vaginal and urethral discharge,a considerable proportion of patients had sexual encounter with a non-regular partner in the last three months period and of them more than half have not used condom during the last sexual contact. Moreover, a larger proportion of HIV positive STI patients used to know their status before the study. Therefore, expansion of STI preventive services including health education on the transmission and possible complications of untreated STI is crucial.