Sexually Transmitted Disease Prevention: Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Among School Pupils in Rural Ghana

Abstract

Background: Mycoplasma can be isolated with considerable frequency from the female urogenital tracts. Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis are important genital mycoplasmas and known as sexually transmitted agents, causing mainly urethritis, pelvic inflammatory disease, spontaneous abortion, pyelonephritis, infertility, stillbirth, low birth weight, neonatal meningititis, and neonatal pneumonia. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of Mycoplasma infections in women of reproductive age.Methods: Vaginal and cervical specimens were collected from 130 women, aged between 20 and 50 years, who referred to our laboratory during a 12-month period. Every woman was tested for the presence of Mycoplasma with culture method. Endocervical and vaginal swab samples were taken from patient, and transported with mycoplasma transport media then filtered and cultured on H&U agar. Isolates tested for Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis with urea and arginin hydrolysis respectively.Results: Of the 130 patients studied, 29(22.33%) were positive for U.urealyticum and 37(28.4%) were positive for M. hominis. 25(18.4%) of patients presented both organisms or both genital mycoplasmas.The highest prevalence of both organisms was seen in the married women in 21-30 age group.Conclusions: In our study there is a expected prevalence of genital Mycoplasma. Because of the potential adverse effects of mycoplasmas on the success rate of highly specialized infertility treatment, and its causal roles in several maternal complications of pregnancy and in neonatal morbidity and mortality, the detection of mycoplasmas in women could be important and necessary.

Prevention of Sexually Transmitted Infections and Associated Factors Among Night School Students in Bahir Dar City, Ethiopia

“…The students of grade 5 and above were relatively knowledgeable about the prevention of STIs than students of grades 1 to 4 (Table 3). This is similar to study findings from Ghana, 11,18,20 where the students’ educational level was a significant factor to have knowledge about STIs. It is true that as the education level increased, the probability of exposure to various health information sources would also be increased.…”

“…This is in line with study findings from Ghana and German. 17,18 The probable explanation for this might be students’ exposure to various information sources such as friends, media, the Internet, and books.…”

“…The questionnaire was developed by referring to different papers on prevention of STIs. 8-11,17-20 It was first prepared in English, translated to Amharic (local language) and back to English to check its consistency. It was pretested among night school students outside the actual study area to check its clarity, consistency, and ease of understanding each question.…”

Knowledge, attitude and practice towards sexually transmitted diseases amongst the inmates of women shelters homes at Klang Valley

“…For instance, the National Health and Morbidity Survey (Malaysia), showed that 7.3% of the respondents whom were 13–17 years old already had sex experiences [5]. Unfortunately, during this phase many studies have proved that the youth are poorly informed about STD and its prevention [6–8]. According to Women Aid Organisation, women shelter home is a place which provide temporary shelter, physical and emotional support for the affected women.…”

Knowledge and Attitude about Sexual Transmitted Disease among Women in Reproductive Age in Al-Nasiriyah Governorate-Iraq

“…There is a changing trend of sexual and reproductive behavior between young people and this need more attention and awareness by healthcare professionals to provide the necessary sexual or reproductive care and education 3 . Unfortunately, many studies during this stage have proven that young people do not have enough information about STDs and their prevention [4][5][6] . According to Women Aid Organization, women shelter home is a place which provide temporary shelter, emotional and physical support for the affected women.…”