Globally, sexually transmitted infections trends are on an increase. Sub-Saharan Africa carries a huge burden of sexually transmitted infections with young adults aged between 16 and 24 years being at higher risk than older adults. Sexually transmitted infections are infections that are mainly transmitted from one person to another through penetrative sexual intercourse, and some are preventable and treatable and others are not. Previous studies show that university students in South Africa comprise a sexually active population, and engage in sexual risk behaviour resulting in sexually transmitted infections that are among the main global causes of sicknesses, long-term disability and death, and have serious psychological and medical consequences for many people across the globe. However, there is a dearth of knowledge on sexually transmitted infections. Knowledge on sexually transmitted infections is vital for preventing and reducing the adverse outcomes of students’ reproductive health. Therefore, this study investigated into the knowledge of sexually transmitted infections and their predictors among university students in the KwaZulu-Natal Province.
Methods: The study was guided by a cross-sectional research design and underpinned by quantitative methodology. A structured and pre-tested self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from 906 students selected using census sampling method. Data was analysed using SPSS version 24, and bivariate and multivariable logistic regression was performed to determine the association of dependent and independent variables.
Results: The study found that 48% of the students had good knowledge of sexually transmitted infections. Seniority in the level of study (AOR; 3.66, 95% CI: 1.70-8.44, P = 0.002), being a male student (AOR; 1.73, 95% CI: 1.13-2.861, P = 0.025), having television and radio as sources of information (AOR; 2.77, 95% CI: 1.79-4.57, 0.013), and having one or no sexual partner (AOR; 1.54, 95% CI: 1.36-3.57, P = 0.005) were predictors of knowledge of sexually transmitted infections.
Conclusion: Students’ level of knowledge on sexually transmitted infections was quite low. There is need to strengthen information, education, and communication on the issue of sexually transmitted infections using factors associated with sexually transmitted infections in this study as entry points to devise strategies to reduce and prevent sexually transmitted infections. Radio and television can be used to reduce and prevent the risk of sexually transmitted infections. Educational curriculum developers should consider developing courses on reproductive health with an emphasis on the understanding, causes, who is affected, symptoms, diagnosis, treatments, and prevention of sexually transmitted infections.
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