CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS (STIs) AMONG EDO STATE UNIVERSITY (EDSU) STUDENTS

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out on the causes and effects of sexually transmitted infections (STIS) among Edo State University (EDSU) students. Students’ level of knowledge about health and disease conditions is vital for their personal learning and professional development; therefore, there is a need to ascertain their knowledge of STIs and preventive measures. The study adopted a cross-sectional descriptive design. The researcher made use of the questionnaire as the instrument for data collection. Data generated for the study was analyzed on an item-by-item basis using descriptive statistics of mean, frequency, percentages and mean. From the findings, the study revealed that majority of the respondents were aware of AIDS, Trichomonas vaginalis, Gonorrhoea and Syphilis. On the symptoms of STIs, majority of the respondents were aware of vaginal discharges, lower abdomen pain, menstrual disorders, and Swelling in the groin. Furthermore, findings demonstrated the risk factors of STIs among students to include sexual promiscuity, multiplicity of sexual partners, unprotected intercourse, sex outside marriage, premarital intercourse, lack of knowledge, and abuse such as rape. lastly, the results revealed the preventive measures used in the management of STIs among students to include abstinence or faithfulness to one partner, use of condoms, use of douching, and treatment after intercourse, treatment of contacts), regular visits to STI clinic, and sex education. The study concluded that knowledge and awareness is crucial to health promotion and outcome in relation to sexually transmitted infections and healthy lifestyle adoption. It was recommended that sex education should be introduced at the all levels of education as a means of increasing students’ awareness about the problem and prevention of sexually transmitted infections.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background of study

Sexually transmitted Infections (STIs), also referred to as Sexually Transmitted diseases (STDs) and the older term venereal disease, are infections that are spread by sexual activity, especially vaginal intercourse, anal sex and oral sex (WHO, 2013). STIs often do not initially cause symptoms, which results in a risk of passing the infection on to others. Symptoms and signs of STIs may include vaginal discharge, penile discharge, ulcers on or around the genitals, and pelvic pain. Some STIs can cause infertility.

The risk factors for STIs include: unsafe sexual activities, clandestine love affairs and multiple sexual partners, indiscriminate sexual behavior, sexual violence and rape, insecurity, mother-to-child transmission, workplace transmission, poverty, non-sterilized medical instruments, female genital mutilation, and unsafe male circumcision (Folayan et al. 2014; Yaya and Bishwajit 2018)

Worldwide, over a million people acquire a sexually transmitted infections (STIs) daily. Every year, there is an estimated 357 million new infections with one of the four STIs globally: chlamydia (131 million), gonorrhoea (78 million), syphilis (5.6 million) or trichonomiasis (143 million).

The United Nations, defines youths as those persons aged between 15 and 24 years. Young persons (youths) are those in the transition period, from the dependent phase of childhood to the interdependence of adulthood. Sexually transmitted infections are common among young people, with approximately 20 million new cases of STIs being reported every year in the United States, of which the majority occur among people aged between 15 and 24 years.

Sexually transmitted infections can lead to severe complications beyond the immediate impact of infections. Some STIs, such as herpes and syphilis, can increase the risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) acquisition threefold or more. Gonorrhoea and chlamydia are major causes of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and infertility in women. Data on the incidence and prevalence of STIs in Nigeria are limited because of the under-reporting of STIs, especially among young persons, which is attributable to inadequate diagnostic facilities and limited access to treatment facilities, asymptomatic episodes of the infections and the stigma associated with STI.

Statement of problem

Causes and effects concerning sexually transmitted infections (STIs) has become the burning issue of the day and this is clearly one of the reasons for the high prevalence of STIs among young people. Young people are at high risk of getting an STI for the following reasons: ignorance about STIs, young women’s bodies are biologically more prone to sexually transmitted infections (STIs), lack of access to healthcare, confidentiality concerns and multiple sexual partners, among others, The Nigerian National Demographic Health Survey (NDHS) in 2008 reported that 16% of young women and 6% of young men aged between 15 and 24 years had sexual debut before the age of 15 years. A survey in Nigeria on the prevalence and predictors of early sexual debut among adolescents reported that an average of 18.6% had sexual debut before their 15th birthday – 16.6% in boys and 20.2% in girls (Fehintola FO, Fehintola AO, Ogunlaja OA, et al). It is against this background that the study seeks to assess the awareness of sexually transmitted infections and preventive measures among students in Edo State University, Uzaire.

Objectives of the study

The general objective of this study is to investigate the level of awareness and knowledge about Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among students in Edo State University, Uzaire. Specifically, the following objectives will guide the study;

1. To assess the effect of STIs among students in Edo State University

2. To determine the causes of risk factors of STIs among students in Edo State University

3. To identify preventive measures used in the management of STIs among students in Edo State University

Research Questions

The following questions were formulated to guide the study based on the research objectives;

1. What is the effect of STIs among students in Edo State University?

2. What is the causes of the risk factors of STIs among students in Edo State University?

3. What are the preventive measures used in the management of STIs among students in Edo State University?

Significance of the study

The study will help to provide information to the Government and health care providers on the level of causes, effects, attitude and perception of students of EDSU to Sexually Transmitted Infection (STIs) including some misconceptions of the infection despite the public health education, campaigns and efforts of the government and health care system to promote awareness and improve prevention and management of the infection.

The information provided will serve as tools to healthcare providers in identifying areas of need. Its findings would show low level of knowledge, appropriate measures will be devised to strengthen their enlightenment campaign in order to health educate them on the importance of screening, knowing their status, general prevention and management of the condition.

However if findings shows high level of knowledge, it will benefit the family and community healthwise. The high level of knowledge will help to change their negative attitude to positive attitude and increase their level of adherence to preventive measures and management of Sexually Transmitted Infection (STIs). Increase in their level of adherence will reduce high risk marriages, birth of a child with HIV/AIDS, under five mortality and morbidity, divorce and frequent going in and out of the hospital.

Findings from this study will be useful to health educators, counselors and policy makers as it will provide information on level of awareness of Sexually Transmitted Infection (STIs) and will be used as a guide in health education campaigns and programs. Furthermore, the findings will also serve as a point of reference for future studies.

Scope of study

This is a cross sectional study to determine the level of awareness Sexually Transmitted Infection (STIs) among students of a tertiary institution. It is confined to students of Edo state university, uzuaire.

Operational Definition of Terms

For the purpose of this study, the key terms have been defined as follows:

Awareness: in this study, awareness refers to the state of being informed on the knowledge of STIs and its preventive measures.

Preventive Measures: refers to the strategies and measures adopted by students to avoid the occurrence or spread of STIs

Sexually transmitted infections: An infectious disease that spreads from person to person during sexual contact.

Nursing Student: is a student in a tertiary educational program that leads to certification and licensing to practice nursing, In this study, the students are those in their first year of study in the department.