Prevalence of Selected Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) and Associated Factors among Symptomatic Patients Attending Gondar Town Hospitals and Health Centers

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Sexually transmitted infection (STI) is a majorglobal cause of acute illness, infertility, long-term disability anddeath, with serious medical and psychological consequences tomillions of men, women and infants. Moreover, in Ethiopia,epidemiological studies on STI among STI clinic clients arelimited. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine theprevalence and associated risk factors of sexually transmittedinfection (STI).METHODS: A cross sectional study was conducted between Apriland August 2014 among STI clinic clients in Gondar Townhospitals and health centers. One hundred twenty studyparticipants who fulfill the criteria were included. Differentlaboratory methods and techniques were applied to identify thepossible microorganisms. Data were entered and analyzed usingSPSS version 20. Logistic regression was used to determine riskfactors for STI and P values < 0.05 was considered statisticallysignificant.RESULTS: The overall laboratory test confirmed that STIsprevalence was 74.1% with 32.5% being Candida spp., 30% T.palladium, 20.8% N. gonorrhoeae and 14.2% T. vaginalis. Two ormore organisms were isolated in 20% of the study subjects. Riskfactors for STI hadknowledge about STI and alcoholconsumption.CONCLUSION: The prevalence of N. gonorrhoeae, T. pallidum,T. vaginalis, and Candida spp. in the study area was high. It needshealth education programs, promotes condom utilization and morecomprehensive community based STI studies.