dc.contributor.author |
Urassa, W. |
|
dc.contributor.author |
Moshiro, C. |
|
dc.contributor.author |
Chalamilla, G. |
|
dc.contributor.author |
Mhalu, F. |
|
dc.contributor.author |
Sandstrom, E. |
|
dc.date.accessioned |
2013-04-02T08:10:56Z |
|
dc.date.available |
2013-04-02T08:10:56Z |
|
dc.date.issued |
2008 |
|
dc.identifier.citation |
Urassa, W., Moshiro, C., Chalamilla, G., Mhalu, F., & Sandstrom, E. (2008). Risky sexual practices among youth attending a sexually transmitted infection clinic in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. BMC infectious diseases, 8(1), 159. |
|
dc.identifier.issn |
1471-2334/8/159 |
|
dc.identifier.other |
doi: 10.1186/1471-2334-8-159. |
|
dc.identifier.uri |
http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/765 |
|
dc.description.abstract |
BACKGROUND: Youth have been reported to be at a higher risk of acquiring STIs
with significant adverse health and social consequences. Knowledge on the
prevailing risky practices is an essential tool to guide preventive strategies.
METHODS: Youth aged between 18 and 25 years attending an STI clinic were
recruited. Social, sexual and demographic characteristics were elicited using a
structured standard questionnaire. Blood samples were tested for syphilis and HIV
infections. Urethral, high vaginal and cervical swabs were screened for common
STI agents.
RESULTS: A total of 304 youth were studied with mean age of 21.5 and 20.3 years
for males and females respectively. 63.5% of youth were seeking STI care. The
mean age of coitache was 16.4 and 16.2 years for males and females respectively.
The first sexual partner was significantly older in females compared to male
youth (23.0 vs 16.8 years) (p < 0.01). 93.2% of male youth reported more than one
sexual lifetime partner compared to 63.0% of the females. Only 50% of males
compared to 43% of females had ever used a condom and fewer than 8.3% of female
youth used other contraceptive methods. 27.1% of pregnancies were unplanned and
60% of abortions were induced. 42.0% of female youth had received gifts/money for
sexual favours. The HIV prevalence was 15.3% and 7.5% for females and males
respectively. The prevalence of other STIs was relatively low. Among male youth,
use of alcohol or illicit drugs was associated with increased risk of HIV
infection. However, the age of sexual initiation, number of sexual partners or
the age of the first sexual partner were not associated with increased risk of
being HIV infected.
CONCLUSION: Most female youth seen at the STI clinic had their first sexual
intercourse with older males. Youth were engaging in high risk unprotected sexual
practices which were predisposing them to STIs and unplanned pregnancies. There
is a great need to establish more youth-friendly reproductive health clinics,
encourage consistent and correct use of condoms, delay in sexual debut and avoid
older sexual partners in females. |
en_GB |
dc.language.iso |
en |
en_GB |
dc.publisher |
BioMed Central |
|
dc.relation.ispartofseries |
BMC Infect Dis. 8:159. |
|
dc.subject |
Risky sexual practices |
en_GB |
dc.subject |
Tanzania. |
en_GB |
dc.subject |
Youth |
|
dc.title |
Risky sexual practices among youth attending a sexually transmitted infection clinic in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. |
en_GB |
dc.type |
Article |
en_GB |