Assessment of sex-related behaviours, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) knowledge and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among men of reproductive age in Cameroon.

Abayomi Samuel Oyekale

doi:10.3390/ijerph111212726

Abstract

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), are among the major public health challenges in Cameroon. This paper determined the effect of men’s sex-related behaviors and HIV knowledge on reported STIs. The data came from the 2012 Cameroon’s Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) that were collected from 7191 respondents in 2012. Descriptive and logistic regression methods were used for data analysis. Results showed that majority of the respondents were aware of STIs and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), while 3.96% reported STIs. Also, 49.45% of the men had no wife, while 75.58% and 84.58% noted that condoms and keeping of one partner could be used to prevent HIV transmission, respectively. Wrong impressions that mosquito bites and sharing of food could lead to HIV infection were held by 31.94% and 12.44% of the men, respectively. Among those that reported STIs, 33.33%, 30.18% and 13.33% respectively used condom during sex with most recent partner, second to most recent partner and third to most recent partner, compared to 24.69%, 15.04% and 4.17% among those that did not report STIs. Logistic regression results showed that probability of STI increased significantly (p < 0.05) with condom use with third most recent partners, being married, wrong knowledge that mosquito bites cause HIV and being away for more than one month, while it significantly reduced (p < 0.05) with number of children, knowledge that having one partner prevents STIs. It was concluded that policy initiatives and programmes to enhance right sexual knowledge and behavior among men would go a long way in reducing STI incidence in Cameroon.

Highlights

In Cameroon, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), are issues at the forefront of public health challenges [1,2]
Incidence of STIs had been studied with focus on the impact of some sex-related behaviours and HIV knowledge
The findings of the study have pointed at the need for ensuring better integration of issue related to sex education in school curriculums in Cameroon

Summary

Introduction

In Cameroon, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), are issues at the forefront of public health challenges [1,2]. Known to have afflicted the human race for many centuries, the discovery of HIV in the early 1980s shone substantial light on the epidemiology of several venereal diseases broadly classified as sexually transmitted infections (STIs). This was essentially motivated by the positive association between patients’ clinical diagnoses with STIs and HIV status [4,5]. Despite many recent developments in the health delivery systems which are geared towards understanding their epidemiology, STIs are still among most notable global public health challenges [6] This is directly linked to the inability to fully address the socio-behavioural issues that motivate infection [5]

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion