Factors Associated With Sexually Transmitted Infections in Young Women in Old Ningo Sub district of The Greater Accra Region, Ghana

ABSTRACT

Background: Internationally, STIs is found to be a key public health problem an estimation of 499 million new curable sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are detected each year with seventy five percent to eighty five percent in developing countries. STIs continue to present major economic, social, and health problems in the developing world, causing considerable mortality, morbidity and stigma. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the factors associated with STIs transmission among young women in the Old Ningo sub-district of the Greater Accra Region. Methods: A cross-sectional study design using quantitative study tools was employed in the study. Two hundred and thirty two participants were recruited for the study. Structured questionnaires were administered to collect data for the study. The data collected was analyzed using STATA version 14. Results: The study found widespread awareness of sexually transmitted diseases of 87.1% among the young women. However, there was low knowledge which is 63.4% of respondents on the signs and symptoms of STI among the young women. There was high prevalence of 77.6% of respondents with symptoms of STI and vaginal discharge was the commonest symptom which is 51.7% reported by most young women. Alcohol intake and smoking were found as individual behavioral level factors that are significant predictors of presence of symptoms of sexually transmitted diseases among young women with (OR = 4.46, 95% C.I. [1.43-13.93], P = 0.010) and (OR = 10.96, 95% C.I. 1.12-107.69) respectively. Conclusion: There is the need for widespread education of young women on sexually transmitted diseases as well as the presenting symptoms.