Ignorance, guilt responsible for rise in sexually transmitted infections
Oct 18, 2009
SEXUALLY Transmitted Infections (STIs), caused by having unprotected sex with an infected person continue to spread. According to the 2004-2005 Uganda HIV/AIDS sero-behavioural survey conducted by the Ministry of Health, 27% of Ugandans had symptoms of a
By Frederick Womakuyu
SEXUALLY Transmitted Infections (STIs), caused by having unprotected sex with an infected person continue to spread. According to the 2004-2005 Uganda HIV/AIDS sero-behavioural survey conducted by the Ministry of Health, 27% of Ugandans had symptoms of an STI prior to that survey.
The survey in which 6,000 people aged 15-59 years participated, established that 33% of women and 21% of men had symptoms of an STI that included genital discharge or a genital sore/ulcer. In 2000/2001, 17% of women and 6% of men had STIs.
Unprotected sex, multiple sexual partners, and lack of public health were cited as factors leading to the rise in STIs.
The survey says the likelihood of reporting a symptom of an STI is highest among married women aged 20-39 and men aged 25-49. Women and men that have not married before were least likely to report symptoms of an STI.
It adds that the never married people were abstaining or engaging in protected sex.
The survey notres that formerly married people were more likely to report STI symptoms because they have no fears, unlike married ones who fear to be blamed by their partners for the infection.
The survey also notes that currently married people may be having one sexual partner hence less risk of contracting the infection than the formerly married people who may be seeing many sexual partners.
It adds that partners in urban areas are more likely to report symptoms of an STI than those in villages because the former are more informed about STIs than the latter.
The survey established that respondents in east and central region were most likely to report STI symptoms, with men at 29% and women 44%, compared to those in the northeast region at 14% for women and 8% for men.
This is because the central and east were more informed about STIs than those in the northeast which has suffered insecurity and civil strife for long.
About 56% of the women and 61% of the men reported seeking treatment. More men had been treated because they noticed the symptoms early.
According to the survey, individuals infected with STIs are two to five times more likely to acquire HIV infection than uninfected people.
In addition, if an HIV-positive individual is infected with another STI, that person is more likely to transmit HIV through sexual contact than other HIV-infected persons.
The survey recommends testing and treatment of STIs as an effective tool in preventing the spread of HIV.
It also found out that over 70% of the respondents had sought treatment from a public health facility than a pharmacy or traditional healer because it is free.
It recommends further public health education to the Ugandan community, better health seeking behaviours, engaging in protected sex, having a single sexual partner, abstinence and treatment as measures to reduce the spread of STIs in the country.
SEXUALLY Transmitted Infections (STIs), caused by having unprotected sex with an infected person continue to spread. According to the 2004-2005 Uganda HIV/AIDS sero-behavioural survey conducted by the Ministry of Health, 27% of Ugandans had symptoms of an STI prior to that survey.
The survey in which 6,000 people aged 15-59 years participated, established that 33% of women and 21% of men had symptoms of an STI that included genital discharge or a genital sore/ulcer. In 2000/2001, 17% of women and 6% of men had STIs.
Unprotected sex, multiple sexual partners, and lack of public health were cited as factors leading to the rise in STIs.
The survey says the likelihood of reporting a symptom of an STI is highest among married women aged 20-39 and men aged 25-49. Women and men that have not married before were least likely to report symptoms of an STI.
It adds that the never married people were abstaining or engaging in protected sex.
The survey notres that formerly married people were more likely to report STI symptoms because they have no fears, unlike married ones who fear to be blamed by their partners for the infection.
The survey also notes that currently married people may be having one sexual partner hence less risk of contracting the infection than the formerly married people who may be seeing many sexual partners.
It adds that partners in urban areas are more likely to report symptoms of an STI than those in villages because the former are more informed about STIs than the latter.
The survey established that respondents in east and central region were most likely to report STI symptoms, with men at 29% and women 44%, compared to those in the northeast region at 14% for women and 8% for men.
This is because the central and east were more informed about STIs than those in the northeast which has suffered insecurity and civil strife for long.
About 56% of the women and 61% of the men reported seeking treatment. More men had been treated because they noticed the symptoms early.
According to the survey, individuals infected with STIs are two to five times more likely to acquire HIV infection than uninfected people.
In addition, if an HIV-positive individual is infected with another STI, that person is more likely to transmit HIV through sexual contact than other HIV-infected persons.
The survey recommends testing and treatment of STIs as an effective tool in preventing the spread of HIV.
It also found out that over 70% of the respondents had sought treatment from a public health facility than a pharmacy or traditional healer because it is free.
It recommends further public health education to the Ugandan community, better health seeking behaviours, engaging in protected sex, having a single sexual partner, abstinence and treatment as measures to reduce the spread of STIs in the country.