Abstract
BackgroundYouth 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.MethodsYouth 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.ResultsA 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.ConclusionMost 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.
Highlights
Youth have been reported to be at a higher risk of acquiring sexually transmitted infections (STIs) with significant adverse health and social consequences
We describe the sexual practices in relation to HIV infection among adolescents and youth below 25 years of age attending a youth STI clinic in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania in order to try to understand factors that may facilitate STI acquisition and suggest preventive strategies
Between April 2002 and June 2004, a total of 304 youth from the youth friendly STI clinic were recruited into the study out of whom 157(51.6%) were females
Summary
Youth have been reported to be at a higher risk of acquiring STIs with significant adverse health and social consequences. Adolescent, the period in particular between 10 and 25 years involves sexual experimentation that may lead to acquisition of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unplanned pregnancies. The risky sexual practices in this age group may include early sexual debut, having multiple sexual partners, engaging in unprotected sexual intercourse, engaging in sex with older partners and consumption of alcohol and illicit drugs. Several studies done in sub Saharan Africa, including Tanzania, have shown a high prevalence of STIs including HIV among youth, with females having higher prevalence compared to males. We describe the sexual practices in relation to HIV infection among adolescents and youth below 25 years of age attending a youth STI clinic in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania in order to try to understand factors that may facilitate STI acquisition and suggest preventive strategies Several studies done in sub Saharan Africa, including Tanzania, have shown a high prevalence of STIs including HIV among youth, with females having higher prevalence compared to males. [3,6,7,8,9,10,11] Reasons for higher susceptibility of females have been found to be multifactorial and include biological, economical and social demographic factors; mixing patterns among sexual partners, the age difference between male and female sexual partners, with males seeking sexual gratification from younger females and peer pressure. [12,13,14,15] In contrast, most studies have indicated that male youth have a higher number of sexual partners than females. [12,13,14,15]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
