Health Seeking Behaviour Towards Sexually Transmitted Infections among Students of a Nigerian Tertia
Authors:
OGUNSANMI Ololade
Publication Type: Journal article
Journal:
ISSN Number:
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Abstract
Sexually Transmitted Infections have a very serious impact on sexual and reproductive
health worldwide and they rank among the top five disease categories for which young adults
seek healthcare. Therefore this study assessed the health seeking behavior of undergraduate
students of Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED) towards STIs.
The study was a descriptive cross-sectional survey that applied both qualitative (focus
group discussion) and quantitative methods (questionnaire) of data collection. Four hundred
and thirty-one respondents participated in the study. Data was analyzed using SPSS version
21 to generate descriptive (frequency tables and charts) and inferential statistics
(correlation).
Results showed that majority (74.2%) of the respondents have heard of STIs; HIV (80%)
was the most commonly known, and Trichomoniasis (128; 29.7%) as least. The major source
of information was television (350;81.2%); most preferred treatment source was private
hospitals (205; 47.6%). Self -preference, inconvenience as a result of symptoms and
knowledge of a place to get treatment were the best motivators of seeking treatment.
Perceived risk of ill-health was high at 19.25 on a 28 point scale. There was a positive
significant relationship between treatment options and perceived risk of ill-health (r =.318, p
< .01).
Respondents had a fair health seeking behavior towards STIs, but misconceptions still
exist. More synchronized actions need to be made by schools, the government, NGOs, the
media and other stakeholders to enhance young people’s health seeking behavior towards
STIs.