The Prevalence Of Trichomona Vaginalis Among Adults
[CASE STUDY OF OSUMENYI IN NNEWI SOUTH LGA]

1.1 AIM AND OBJECTIVES

1.1.1 General objective

To determine the sexual behavior and knowledge of sexually transmitted disease including HIV/AIDS among adolescents in Nnewi L.G.A Anambra State.

1.1.2 Specific objectives

1. To determine the extent of knowledge on sexually transmitted disease including HIV/AIDS.

2. To determine the attitude of the adolescents to premarital sex, multiple sexual partners and use of preventive methods against sexually transmitted infections.

3. To determine the attitude of the adolescents to HIV/AIDS victim in relation to their knowledge on Trichomonas Vaginalis/AIDS.

4. To determine the percentage of sexually active adolescents, and number of sexual partners.

5. To offer recommendations based on the finding of the study.

1.2 RATIONALE OF THE STUDY

Interest in the reproductive health of adolescents continues to grow throughout the world. One of the factors responsible for this interest is the sheer number of young persons worldwide. For example, nearly half of the global population is less than 25 years old.

1. Addressing the reproductive health information and service needs of this population poses significant challenges for policy makers and service providers especially those working in resource poor settings. The fact that adolescents and other young persons are disproportionately affected by the reproductive health morbidity such as abortion, sexually transmitted infections (STI) including HIV/AIDS draws attention to the need of appropriate interventions. Adolescents account for a significant proportion of unsafe abortions globally. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) at least one-third of all women seeking hospital-care for abortion complications are under the age of 20 years.

2 Adolescents are also one of the groups hard hit by HIV/AIDS. Over half of all new HIV infections in Africa in 2005 were among young persons aged 14–25 years with the worst hit being young women.

3.These data underscore the need to target adolescents with appropriate interventions that address not only the contextual factors such as gender roles and poverty that place them at risk but also individual factors including lack of access to knowledge, inadequate communication and life skills that adolescents need to negotiate safe sex.

In Nigeria, as elsewhere in Sub-Saharan Africa, studies confirm that a large proportion of adolescents have unmet reproductive health needs.

Evidence of unmet need is reflected in the fact that some adolescents and other young persons lack adequate knowledge and understanding of the reproductive process, that many harbor misconceptions such as the belief that mosquitoes can transmit HIV

infection, and false claims that use of contraceptives can cause infertility.

4.The National HIV/AIDS and Reproductive Health Survey (NARHS) showed that only 7% and 44% of 15–19 year olds knew of STI symptoms in men and women. Research also confirms that many young persons participate in risky sexual activities including early debut of sexual activities, multiple sexual partners, low and inconsistent use of condoms.5,8,9.

The data from the NARHS further reveal that among the sexually active 15 to 19 year olds only 34.4% used condoms at their most recent sexual encounter.7

The explanations offered for increasing proportion of young persons involved in pre-marital sexual activities include earlier menarche, effects of mass media that glamorize sex, and increasing weakness of traditional control of the family system in Nigeria.

Although these researches have contributed to our understanding of the reproductive health behavior of young persons in Nigeria, the utility of the data is undermined by the fact that these studies were derived mainly from the southern parts of the country. Few studies have been conducted among young Nigerians living in the northern areas of the country. One recent study from Plateau, a predominantly Christian state in north central Nigeria, shows that many students participate in risky sexual activities including sexual networking and low use of condoms .The findings of this study will be used to plan appropriate interventions that enhance the reproductive health knowledge, service, and skills needs of the adolescents living in this part of the country.