Abstract

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) can be defined as any infection, commonly of bacterial origin, that occurs in any part of the urinary system with microbial pathogens in the urinary tract and this is a public health problem worldwide affecting especially female adolescents between the age of 13 to 24 years old.

This research is to investigate the development of common urinary tract infections among female adolescents between 13-24 years of age in the mile16 community. The specific objectives of this study were to determine female adolescent’s knowledge of UTIs, factors influencing the development of UTIs, and the challenges faced in identifying common UTIs.

A cross-sectional study design was used and a pretested questionnaire was addressed to 71 participants using the Cochran formula for data collection.

Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25. The data revealed that 77.1% of the participants were between 21-24 years old and 60% have adequate knowledge on UTI, 65.7% has no history of UTIs in the last 12months with a frequency of occurrence of UTIs in the last 12months been 60% once, 30% twice and 10% thrice or more.

Also, with regard to behavioral risk factors of UTIs among female adolescents, 86.7% wipe from front to back after every bowel movement, 85.0% have only one sexual partner, 55.5% used condoms during sexual intercourse, 71.4% use cotton pants, 71.4% use sanitary pad during menstruation and 50.0% change sanitary pad during menstruation thrice or more a day, 42.9% twice a day, and 7.1% once a day.

It was concluded that the majority of the study participants had adequate knowledge on UTIs although, the majority of them had difficulties in identifying common UTIs which are the most challenges faced in the management of UTI, while recommendations such as sensitization on UTIs should be done regularly.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1. BACKGROUND Of the Study

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are defined as any infections, commonly of bacterial origin, that occur in any part of the urinary system with microbial pathogens in the urinary tract, and women of the reproductive age ground (15 to 44years) are the most vulnerable population.

Nowadays, it represents a serious public health problem and is responsible for nearly 150 million disease cases every year worldwide. (Dorgelesse, 2019).

Urinary tract infection is a common cause of acute illness in infants and children throughout the world who account for the heaviest burden particularly those aged less than five years.

A study of Williams and coworkers, children will have at least one episode of UTI by the age of 24 years with the common cause being the gram-negative bacteria rods. Escherichia coli cause about 80% of UTIs in all group of patients.

Urinary tract infections are common in infants and young children. About 3% of girls and 1% of boys will have a UTI by 11years of age. Urinary tract infections are also common in female adolescents and young women; young women develop UTIs at more than 3times the rate of young men.

Symptoms of UTIs may include burning or pain during urination, needing to urinate more often, difficulty getting urine out, urgently needing to urinate or having an “accident” such as wetting underwear or the bed by a child who knows how to use the toilet, foul-smelling urine, or cloudy or bloody urine. (Ma-Moreno, 2016).

Up to 60% of women have at least one symptomatic UTI during their lifetime. Around 10% of women in the United State have one or more episodes of symptomatic UTIs each year.

Young, sexually active women 18 to 24 years of age have the highest incidence of UTIs. About 25% of these women have spontaneous resolution of symptoms, and an equal number become infected (Sobel ,2014). The prevalence of UTIs in men urologic structural abnormalities and in older adult men.

The influence of anthropometric and clinical characteristics of children on the risk of UTI was bodyweight and presence of fever were significantly associated with urinary tract infection. Indeed, any increase by 1kg in body weight was associated with decreasing by 1% (Adjusted Risk Ratio(ARR)-0.95%,95% confidence interval(CI)-0.83 to O.97, prevalence (P)-0.0047) in the risk for UTI.

Likewise, children presenting fever were about twofold (ARR-1.17,95% CI-1.32 to 2.22, P-0.0001) more at risk for developing UTI than their afebrile counterparts. It should be noted that the risk for developing UTI was increasing with the number of symptoms presented at admission even though no statistically significant difference was found. (Kovemo et al., 2019).

Besides, the definition of algorithms could be an interesting approach for diagnosing urinary tract infections in our context where urine culture, referred to as the gold standard, either is not owing to its cost or is absent especially in remote areas.

In Cameroon, much has not to be carried out on this topic. Thus, this study is aimed at identifying the factors influencing the development of common urinary tract infections in female adolescents (13 to 24years) in the mile 16 community. (Dorgelesse, 2019).

1.2. Problem Statement

The diagnosis and management of female adolescent urinary tract infection(UTI) is too complicated since many will delay correct diagnosis by underestimating their symptoms or consider them too embarrassing to discuss them to the health care provider.

While others take antibiotics advised by peers who have had similar symptoms thereby leading to antibiotic resistance, recurrent infections, especially in women who have experienced two or more UTIs in six month periods, permanent kidney damage from an acute or chronic kidney infection (pyelonephritis) and even death if left untreated. (By Mark Horowitz, July 2007)

1.3. Research Questions

1. Do female adolescents have adequate knowledge about UTIs?
2. Do female adolescents know the factors influencing the development of UTIs?
3. Do female adolescents face challenges in identifying common UTIs?

1.4. Research Objectives

1.4.1 General Objective

To investigate factors influencing the development of common urinary tract infection among female adolescents (13 to 24years) in mile 16 community.

1.4.2 Specific Objectives

1. To investigate female adolescents’ knowledge on UTIS.
2. To investigate female adolescents’ knowledge on the factors influencing the development of UTIs.
3. To investigate challenges, face by female adolescents in identifying common UTIs