AWARENESS AND KNOWLEDGE OF SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTION AMONGS ADOLESCENTS OF SECONDARY SCHOOLS

Abstract

This study was designed to investigate awareness, and knowledge of sexually transmitted infection amongst secondary school students in Ibadan South-East local government area of Oyo State. The study was guided by five research questions. The population consisted of 2931 students, which were made up of all the students in the day schools from twenty three secondary schools in Ibadan South-East local government area of Oyo State. The sample was 220, ten senior secondary schools were randomly selected from twenty three senior secondary school in Ibadan South-East local government area of Oyo State. The research questions were answered using mean and standard deviation while t-test was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The data presentation was done in order of research questions, and the major findings were as follows; the students have high level of knowledge of sexual transmitted diseases in Ibadan South-East local government area of Oyo State. The students are knowledgeable on modes of transmission of STIs. Gender has influence on the level of knowledge of the students on signs and symptoms of STIs. Gender also influences on students’ attitude towards those living with STIs. Gender has a significance influence on students’ attitude towards those living with STIs in Ibadan South-East local government area of Oyo State. The recommendations based on the findings of this research study were; Health workers should create awareness in secondary schools on the sexually transmitted diseases to help the students avoid them. Seminar and workshops should be organized, awareness through Pamplets and leaflets to intensify effort in assisting the students know the dangers of sexually transmitted diseases. More control methods for the STIs should be brought to the knowledge of the students.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

• Background of the study

Sexually transmitted infection (STI) is any disease (such as syphilis, gonorrhea, AIDS, or a genital form of herpes simplex) that is usually or often transmitted from person to person by direct sexual contact. It may also be transmitted from a mother to her child before or at birth or, less frequently, may be passed from person to person in nonsexual contact such as in kissing, in tainted blood transfusions, or in the use of unsanitized hypodermic syringes ( Encyclopedia Britannica, 2018). In a similar thought, Myless, (2014) averred that sexually transmitted diseases are those diseases caused by variety of organisms which are capable of being transmitted sexually. However, Achalu (2013) defined sexually transmitted diseases as group of infectious diseases in which the main form of spread is by sexual activity or contact. The researcher defines sexually transmitted diseases as diseases that can be contacted through unprotected sexually activities. Sexually transmitted diseases usually affect initially the genitals, the reproductive tract, the urinary tract, the oral cavity, the anus, or the rectum but may mature in the body to attack various organs and systems. Tertiary syphilis, or paresis, for example, may affect skin, bones, the central nervous system, the heart, the liver, or other organs. Persons infected by an AIDS virus may remain outwardly healthy for years before the disease takes hold within the immune system. Sexually transmitted diseases have a long history. The best known of these diseases, syphilis, is caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. Syphilis was first widely reported by European writers in the 16th century, and some medical historians assume that it was imported into Europe by explorers returning from the New World. Other authorities believe that syphilis is of ancient origin and may at one time have been mistakenly identified as leprosy. At any rate, syphilis first became widely recognized and reported about the year 1500, when a virtual epidemic swept Europe (Billings, 2018). Urethritis is the infection and inflammation of the urethra (the passage that transmits urine from the bladder to the exterior of the body). Most cases of urethritis are in fact sexually transmitted. Urethritis that is caused by the gonococcus bacterium (Neisseria gonorrhoeae) is called gonorrhea and is one of the best-known sexually transmitted diseases. Gonorrhea was named by the Greek physician Galen and is thought to have been known to the ancient Chinese and Egyptians. A disease that became especially widespread beginning in the 1960s and ’70s was genital herpes. Herpes infections are significant not only in terms of the discomfort they cause but also for the potentially serious illness that might occur in infants born to mothers with genital herpes infections. A variety of treatments have been used for genital herpes, but none have been entirely satisfactory.( Encyclopedia Britannica, 2018)

The sexually transmitted disease that caused perhaps the greatest alarm in the late 20th century was acquired immune deficiency syndrome, or AIDS. From the time of its first clear identification in 1981, AIDS spread rapidly, with reported cases rising at a high rate, especially among homosexuals and intravenous drug users in the United States and Western Europe and among heterosexuals in tropical Africa (WHO 2013). The high mortality rate from AIDS and the absence of a cure or vaccine against the disease had a sobering effect on sexually permissive societies. Nearly a score of other sexually transmitted diseases are known. All have reasonably effective drug cures. About half of all cases of urethritis that are not gonorrhea are chlamydia, which is caused by an infection with Chlamydia trachomas. The latter bacterium is also the infecting agent in pelvic inflammatory disease and in still another sexually transmitted disease, lymphogranuloma venereum. The cause for the remaining 50 percent of nongonococcal urethral infections is not known; no organism has been definitely related (Wenger, 2015). Trichomoniasis is an infection of the urogenital tract caused by a protozoan, Trichomonas vaginalis; males usually have no symptoms with this infection, and only a portion of infected females have a vaginal discharge. Candidiasis (yeast infection) is caused by Candida albicans (sometimes called Monilia albicans), which produces in women

a thick, whitish vaginal discharge and causes irritation and itching in the genital area. Males may have irritation of the glans or skin of the penis. Because this yeast is ubiquitous in the environment, these infections are not always sexually acquired. Warts occurring in the genital areas are caused by certain types of papilloma viruses, and these types of warts can be transmitted to other people by sexual contact. Most often, genital warts are nothing more than a nuisance, but occasionally they can become so numerous or so large as to interfere with urination, bowel movements, or vaginal delivery (WHO 2013).   The World Health Organization (WHO, 2013) drew the attention of the world in no mistakable terms to the rise in the incidence and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, ever since then, nobody or association has refuted the claim. Rather, other numerous sexually transmitted infections (STIs) were discovered and reported to be in circulation. As a matter of fact, Webster (2014) reported that the incidence of infection of STIs has risen dramatically until it is now recognized as having reached epidemic proportions. A more widely discussed factor for the spread of veneral diseases (VDS) is on increase in sexual freedom and the frequency of the sexual contacts.( Morton, 2015) The commonest STIs include HIV&AIDS, non-specific genital infection (NSGI), Candidiasis, Gonorrhea, Trichomoniasis, Genital Warts, Syphilis, Herps, Genitalia Tines (Crurus), Scabies and Gardenerella Vaginalisis. Others are Hymphorgramutoma, Varecem, Choncroid and Vereophobia among other.

It has been established that sexual promiscuity is on increase among adolescents and especially students but it will be nebulous to conclude that male students in secondary schools have better knowledge and attitude towards sexually transmitted diseases than their female counterparts. A research carried out in India indicates that the knowledge of sexually transmitted diseases and other STIs among adolescent girls in schools is poor when compared to boys. (India report, 2015). In this regard, the researcher will consider gender in this study. Hence, Webster (2012), indicated that attitudes and beliefs around sexual behavior determine the intended sexual behavior of young people. He concluded in his study that most of young people did not believe that girls should remain a virgin and as such; they are naturally predisposed to sexually transmitted diseases. Several studies on vulnerability to sexually transmitted diseases have indicated that the most common reasons cited for having engaged in unwanted sex by street were being drunk and pressure from a sexual partner (Owen,2016, Morgan, 2014). Bridging the gap between knowledge and practice has emerged as a major behavior change communication challenge to reducing students’ vulnerability to STIs and unwanted pregnancies. It is not certain whether secondary school students are aware of STIs and also; whether they have right attitude towards it. Therefore, this survey will be conducted in order to investigate and assess the knowledge of STIs among secondary school students and their awareness towards sexuality taking into account the high prevalence of the AIDS pandemic. In the light of the above statement, the researcher is interested in investigating the awareness and knowledge of sexually transmitted infections among adolescent of secondary schools in Ibadan South-East local government area

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Adolescents, especially those in secondary schools are likely to engage in risky sexual practices and this increase their chances of contacting sexually transmitted diseases or infections. It is no longer an old tale about the existence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) as it used to be relegated as superstitious. Just like the popular slogan that “AIDS is real” similarly, sexually transmitted diseases abound but the problem is that adolescents and especially, secondary school students who indulge in sexual practices seem to have little or no knowledge of STIs and the right attitude towards it. In a bid to explore and experiment on sex and its related activities, adolescents seemingly lurk in total ignorance of the existence, symptoms, mode of transmission, control and right attitude towards sexually transmitted diseases. However, ignorance, they said, is not an excuse to grave consequences of contacting STIs. Sequel to the above statement, the problem of this study simply addressed in a question form is; what do adolescents in secondary schools know on the symptoms, mode of transmission and control of sexually transmitted diseases. Also, what is the attitude of secondary school students in Ibadan South-East local government area of Oyo state towards STIs?

1.2 RESEARCH OBJECTIVE

The main objective of this study is to examine the level of awareness and knowledge of sexually transmitted infections among adolescent of secondary schools in Ibadan South-East local government area.

1.2.1 Specific objective

Specifically, the study aims at the following:

1. To ascertain the level of knowledge of students on the signs and symptoms of STIs.
2. To find out the extent to which the students know of the mode of transmission.

• To ascertain their knowledge of the control of STIs

1. To find out the attitude of students towards STIs.
2. To determine the influence of gender on students level of knowledge of STIs.

1.3 Research Questions

To carry out the study, the following research questions were formulated to guide the study,

1. What is the level of knowledge of students on the signs and symptoms of STIs?
2. To what extent do students know the modes of transmission of STIs?

• To what extent are students aware of the control of STIs?

1. What are the students’ attitudes towards STIs?
2. What are the influence of gender on students’ level of knowledge of STIs?

1.4 Hypotheses

The following null hypotheses will be tested at 0.05 level of significance to guide the study.

HO₁: There is no significant difference between the mean responses of male and female students on their knowledge of various STIs.

HO₂: There is no significant difference between the mean scores on attitude of students towards STIs based on gender.

1.5 Significance of the Study

The findings of this study if published will be of immense benefits to the ministry of Education, teachers, parents, curriculum developers and the general public. It is hoped that the findings of this study will spur the Federal Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education to articulate effective programmes on sex education for Secondary School Students. It is hoped that these ministries will train and equip peer educators who will further educate secondary school students on the right knowledge and attitude towards sexually transmitted diseases; steering through it’s related health hazards and consequences. The study will also help teachers and counselors to know and acknowledge students’ knowledge and attitude to sexually transmitted diseases and how best they can help students in the area of sexuality. The result of the study will help to reawaken parents and teachers on their roles in educating the adolescents on sexual matters. It will at the same time help to challenge our adolescents to healthy sexual relationships in order to avoid contacting HIV virus and STIs, unwanted pregnancies and abortion among others. To the general public, it is hoped that the findings of this study will; and especially Elders and the Clergy, they would also acknowledge their personal dispositions to guard the adolescents in words and action towards wholesome attitude and knowledge to sexually transmitted infections.

1.6 Scope of the Study

The study is designed to find the level of awareness and knowledge of sexually transmitted infections among adolescent of secondary schools in Ibadan South-East local government area. The study will investigate the students’ knowledge and attitude towards Sexually transmitted diseases, focusing on signs and symptoms, mode of transmission, and control.

1.7 definition of terms

Awareness

The present continually reinforces the memorized auditory data and demands a new kind of auditory awareness.

Knowledge

Knowledge is a familiarity, awareness, or understanding of someone or something, such as facts, skills, or objects. By most accounts, knowledge can be acquired in many different ways and from many sources, including but not limited to perception, reason, memory, testimony, scientific inquiry, education, and practice.

Sexually transmitted infection

An infection transmitted through sexual contact, caused by bacteria, viruses or parasites.

Adolescent

Adolescence is a transitional stage of physical and psychological development that generally occurs during the period from puberty to legal adulthood.

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