Factors Affecting the Utilization of Sexually Transmitted Infections Health Services at the Primary Health Centers in El-Damazin locality at Blue Nile State, Sudan 2015-2016

Abstract

Sexually transmitted Infections (STIs) constitute a public health problem, especially in developing countries and among poor people, women and adolescent. In Sudan, despite the endorsement of STIs health services in 2004, within the primary health care (PHC) service package, the uptake of STIs by those in need remains limited. This study aimed at exploring the factors affecting the utilization of STIs health services at the PHC in El-Damazin locality in Blue Nile State (BNS) in Sudan, 2015 -2016. The Specific objectives of this study were: Assessing the capacity of PHC and care providers, in El-Damazin locality in (BNS), in providing quality STIs health services. The study was descriptive, analytical, cross-sectional health facility based study. The study investigated eight PHC and ten care providers during the study period. The study findings indicated that while 62.5% of the investigated PHC centers provide the STIs health services behind closed door, yet 75% of the investigated PHC centers do not abide by the necessary confidentiality measures in maintaining the records of the patients, as well as lacking some medical equipment. All the investigated eight PHCs centers lack management protocol of the STIs. Female health care providers (CPs) are only 30%. While medical doctors represent 80% of the care providers, only 20% of them received training in STIs syndromic case management. Eighty percent of health CPs specified the lack of protocols and guidelines affects the quality of service to STIs patients. The study concluded that the lack of STIs management protocols and guidelines, lack of specific capacity in STIs syndromic case management, limited numbers of female care providers, insufficient medical equipment adversely affect the quality STIs services.