MAGNITUDE AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS OF SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS AMONG PATENTS ATTENDING HEALTH FACILITIES IN DIRE DAWA, EASTERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Back ground: Globally more than 499 million new cases of curable sexually transmitted infections are estimated to occur each year among adults aged 15–49 years. Eight six percent of the world’s burden of STI is contributed by the developing world, of which sub Saharan Africa continues to bear the second largest proportion. Every day 685,000 people are estimated to be infected with STIs on average. In developing countries STIs take up to 15% of the disease burden in urban populations. Even though there is little information on the incidence and prevalence of STIs in Ethiopia, the problem of STIs is generally believed to be similar to that of other developing countries and STIs constitute a major public health problem in Ethiopia. The 2011 EDHS shows, 1%, of each Ethiopians women and men reported having had an STI in the past 12 months before the survey (65.9% presented with vaginal discharge, 25.1% with urethral discharge, and 17.6% with genital ulcer) Objective: To assess magnitude and associated factors of STI based on the syndromic approach among patents attending public and private health care facilities in Dire Dawa East Ethiopia from January 25th to February 25th 2017 Method: Institution based cross sectional study design was conducted on 1130 patients who had visited at 16 health facilities from January 25th to February 25th 2017. Every other client was selected from consequetive clients visiting opd where the samples were taken from each facility proportionally. Data collection instrument was structured questioner administered by interviewer. Ethical clearance was obtained from Haramaya University College of Health and Medical Science College of Public health Ethical review committee and informed consent was obtained from health facility and respondents. Multivariate analysis was done using SPSS statistical software version 20 to see statistical association between independent and outcome variables. Result: Among total respondents; 714(63.2%) were male and 416(36.8%) female patients. The prevalence of sexually transmitted infections based on the syndromic approach was 11.3% with specific prevalence of (2.4%) urethral discharge syndrome, (2.7%) genital ulcer syndrome, (1%) scrotal swelling syndrome, (0.5%) lower abdominal pain syndrome, (0.2%) inguinal bubo and (2.1%) had vaginal discharge syndrome. Among STI patients 95.3% (122/128) did not come with their sexual partners for treatment. After multivariable logistic regression analysis, age (AOR=0.33(95%CI=0.18, 0.63), past history of STI case (AOR=0.01(95%CI=0.002-0.62), were significantly associated with STI syndrome p-value<0.05 VIII Conclusion and recommendations: The prevalence of sexually transmitted infections based on the syndromic approach among patients attending OPD was 11.3% and the factors associated with STIs among patients were: age, past history of STI. Moreover, further studies to explore the predictor variables are highly recommended.