Abstract

Background. Sexually transmissible infections (STIs) are a variety of clinical conditions that are caused by pathogens which can be acquired and transmitted via sexual activities. STIs are transmitted predominantly via unprotected sex and can also be transmitted through child birth or breast feeding as well as sharing needle. STI are caused by more than 30 different kinds of pathogens including bacteria, virus, protozoa, and fungus. There are both curable and non-curable but preventable STI. In Cameroon, it is estimated that more than 1000 people are infected on a daily bases and about 60% of this infection occur in young people between 20 years of age and 30% are less than 40 years of age.

Objective. The main objective of this study was to access the “knowledge, attitudes and preventive practices of STIs amongst youths aged 18-35years at Bowango Community, Buea.

Methods and materials. This study was carried out using a descriptive cross sectional study design. A multi-stage Sampling technique was adopted to collect data among 238 youths at the Bowango Community. A semi-structured questionnaire was used. These questionnaires was divided into four main sections that is; demographic data, knowledge, attitude and preventive practices on STIs among youths. Data was analyzed, entered in statistical Package for social science (SPSS) version 26 and Microsoft excel 2013.Result will be presented on tables, Data will be collected for six weeks and analyzed using a Microsoft excel version 2013.An authorization will be obtained from Gracious University, followed by an ethical clearance from the Regional Delegation of Public Health. In addition, inform consent was gotten from the participants and confidentiality was maintained. Results were presented in the form of frequency distribution tables.

Results: The study on knowledge and preventive practice of sexually transmitted infections in the bokwango community employed a total of 200 participants. The study’s findings show that their ages generally ranged from 18 to 35 years with the majority of 36% with a range of 26 to 30 years. Their marital status varies between those who were married (41.5%) and those who were single (58%) and their religion were Islam, Christianity and others. Christianity had a majority of 44%. The findings in this study shows that majority of 72.5% had good level of knowledge while minority of 27.5% had poor level of knowledge. Lastly, findings in this study shows that majority of 89.5% of this study had good practice of STI, while minority of 10.5% had poor practice with regards to sexually transmitted infections.

Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, it can be concluded that with regards to  “Knowledge, Attitudes and Preventive practices of STIs among youths aged 18-35years at the Bokwango community”, that out of the 200 participants that took part in this study, 55%(n=145) had adequate knowledge on STIs while 179 (89.5%) had good preventive practices.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) are infections that are transmitted from one individual to another through sexual contact. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) remain one of the most serious public health problems in the world, both in industrialized and in developing countries (Subbarao & Akhilesh, 2017). STIs represent a huge burden of disease worldwide with an annual incidence of about 333 million cases and have harmful effects on sexual health or reproduction (Nyasulu et al., 2018a).  Globally, the burden of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) remains a high public health concern.

It is estimated that more than 1 million curable STIs are acquired every day worldwide, and 376 million new cases occur each year (Yuh et al., 2020). Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are infections with significant probability of transmission by means of sexual contact through vaginal, oral and anal sex (Norbu, Mukhia, and Tshokey 2013). STI are caused by more than 30 different kinds of pathogens including bacteria, virus, protozoa, and fungus. There are both curable and non-curable but preventable STI (Osanyin et al., 2020).

Worldwide, over a million people acquire a sexually transmitted infection (STI) 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 trichomoniasis (143 million) (Ulfa et al., 2020).

A range of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and HIV have been reported among individuals with risk factors being unhealthy sexual behaviors, including no or infrequent use of condoms, multi sexual partners, engaging into sexual activities at a young age, being sexually assaulted, and drug abuse. Many adolescents tend to experiment and indulge in some risky sexual behaviors primarily due to the feeling of independence as well as poor access to adequate and appropriate information about sexual and reproductive health (Mbachu et al., 2021). (Steen et al., 2009).

In Sub-Saharan Africa, it has been identified that adolescents and women of reproductive age are at high risk for STIs due to several factors including socio-behavioral risk factors like low levels of education, not being married, multiple sex partners, alcohol and drug use, early engagement into sexual activities and low availability and use of condoms (Sham et al., 2020)

Young people are at high risk of  STI due to the following reasons: young women’s bodies are biologically more prone to sexually transmitted infections (STDs), lack of access to healthcare, confidentiality concerns and multiple sexual partners, among others (Osanyin et al., 2020).. The Cameroonian National Demographic Health Survey (CDHS) 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 (Elsabagh et al., 2016).

A survey in Cameroon 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. Regions where they are endemic, propelled mainly by heterosexual transmission, includes vaccination (for vaccine-preventable diseases) and practice of the ‘ABC’ approach (abstinence, be faithful to one partner and use of condom) (Varghese et al., 2020).

Literature on the knowledge and preventive practices of STIs in Cameroon is quite scanty, if any at all, especially in the highly sociable urban areas, with numerous bars, clubs lounges, malls and pubs, highly populated by young persons. Hence, this study were conducted in bokwango community to determine the knowledge of, attitude towards and preventive practices adopted by young unmarried persons against STIs.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

The burden of STIs remains very high in many countries of the world. According to a study carried out in the US in 2018, an estimated population of 67.6 million and 26.2 million people made up the prevalence and incidence of STIs respectively. Globally, the prevalence of STIs remains significantly high despite the measures put in place to increase the Knowledge and attitude on the various types and their preventive measures.

Complications of STIs such as infertility, cancers of the cervix, , and vagina, PIDs, ectopic pregnancies and birth defects keep increasing in prevalence daily hence, posing serious health problems. Also, there is a reduced utility of condoms during sexual intercourse as a measure way of preventing STIs, as most youths are of the opinion that it is more pleasurable having sexual intercourse without condoms.

In Cameroon, it is estimated that more than 1000 people are infected on daily bases and about 60% of this infection occur in young people between 20 years of age and 30% are less than 40 years of age.  This may be due to the lack of knowledge on preventive measures on STIs. The purpose of the study was to improve on youth knowledge attitudes and preventive practices.

1.3 Research Questions

1.3.1 Main Research Question

What is the Knowledge, Attitudes and Preventive practices of sexually Transmitted Infections among youths aged 18-35 in the Bokwango Community Buea?

1.3.2: Specific Research Questions

1. What is the Knowledge on Sexually Transmitted Infections among youths aged 18 to 35years in the Bokwango community Buea?
2. What are the attitudes of youths towards STIs in the Bowango community Buea?
3. What are the possible preventive practices of Sexually Transmitted Infections amongst youths aged 18 to 35years in the Bokwango community Buea?

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