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Risk Factors Of Contracting Sexually Transmitted Infections Among Students
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CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background to the Study
While sex is a
part of a healthy lifestyle, it can as well expose us to serious
sexually transmitted infections. There are many new cases of sexually
transmitted infection occurrences among all ages and works of life. The
need for the study of sexually transmitted infections among students has
become indispensable in today’s contemporary society. While many
individuals, societies and cultures around the world are yet to consent
that sexually transmitted infections leads to various complications
later in life, mostly because of their religion, socio cultural
background and their belief system etc. In 2011, 11,000 cases of
sexually transmitted infections were notified in Ireland. While young
age is a risk factor, it is important to know that STIs are not only
confined to young people. Health care professionals do not often discuss
risky sexual behavior and STI prevention with middle age and older
adults. According to Ravi and Nair (2011), viral and bacterial STIs are
estimated over 250million cases yearly. In fact, 356,000 new cases occur
daily. Controlling the spread of STIs is an important consideration
with the high incidence of acute infections and complications, its socio
– economic impact and its role in the transmission of HIV. STIs have
reached epidemic levels and the number of new infections reported
annually shows pattern of steady increase. Although population in
developing countries is heterogeneous, it is young and the incidence and
prevalence of STIs is likely to increase among persons aged 20 –
40years.
The factors that contribute directly and indirectly to high
incidence of STIs include urbanization, unemployment, poverty,
antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria and large numbers of people in
the sexually active age group. Infection rates are similar in both women
and men but women bear the major burden of complications. STIs are
troublesome because they are difficult to identify, treat and control.
They are dynamic than any other diseases prevailing in the community.
Its epidemiological profile varies from country to country and region to
region depending on the ethnographic, demographic, socio – economic and
health factors. World health organization (2008) presented a report on
global and regional estimates of the incidence and prevalence of four
curable sexually transmitted infections which are chlamydia,
trichomonas, vaginalis, which is common in adults between 15 and 49
years of age. These estimates were generated using the same approach as
used to generate the 2005 global estimates. The 2008 estimates of the
number of new cases for the four infections combined is 11% higher than
the estimate for 2005. Worldwide sexually transmitted infections
continue to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Although, the
figure given is likely to be doubled at present. Sexually transmitted
infections tools and interventions have been available for years because
serious health problems are prevented if these infections are diagnosed
and treated early. Viral infections such as herpes .genital warts and
HIV aremuch more difficult to treat and in some cases no cure exists.
More than one million people were been infected daily, about 60% of
those infection occur in young people of 25years of age and 30% of the
age group of 25years of age and 30% of the age group of 20years.
Sexually transmitted infections occur frequently in girls more than the
boys by ratio of nearly 2: 1. This is due to some environmental factors,
natural phenomenon.
According to a source on immunization and
infectious diseases: an informed parents’ guide (copyright @2006
American academy of pediatrics), sexually transmitted infections are
spread through direct sexual contact. Teenagers and young adults have
higher rates of sexually transmitted infections than any other age group
and one of the main reasons is that they frequently have unprotected
sex. They are also biologically more likely to develop an infection and
theymay be likely to use health care services that could give them
information on how to protect themselves against sexually transmitted
infections. Others factors that give rise to the spread of sexually
transmitted infections are population explosive. Marked increase in the
number of young people, rural to urban migration and increasing
educational opportunities. They also include social disruption like war,
terrorism, civil unrest, international travel, broken homes, disharmony
etc. It is worthy to note that these predisposing factors to STIs
emanate from the environment one may find may find him or himself.
Experience and education give rise to knowledge, attitude and practice
towards health related issues.
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ABSRACT - [ Total Page(s): 1 ]The aim and purpose of this research work is to look into student’s behavior and sexual activities which expose them to contracting sexually transmitted infections, level of awareness of students towards sexually transmitted infections, factors that combine to determine the risk factors of contracting sexually transmitted infections.A survey research design was adopted for this study using a structured questionnaire; the population of the study was basically students in Ekosodin community ... Continue reading---
