Abstract
BackgroundSexually transmitted infections (STIs) are the most common communicable diseases that affect the health and life of people. Even though there is little information on the prevalence of STIs in Ethiopia, the problem is likely similar to other developing countries. Therefore, the objective of this study was to measure STIs related care-seeking behavior and associated factors among reproductive-age women in Ethiopia.MethodsThe study was based on the data from the 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS). Information on STIs related care-seeking was extracted from the individual women dataset. A total of 474 (weighted) reproductive age women (15–49 years) who reported STIs or STI symptoms were included in the study. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression models were fitted to assess factors associated with STIs related care-seeking behavior. The adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) was used to show the strength of associations between the outcome and independent variables. Variables with a p value of less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant.ResultsThe prevalence of STIs related care-seeking behavior among women was 33.3% (95% CI 29.2–37.3%). STIs related care-seeking behavior was significantly associated with higher women educational status (AOR = 0.16, 95% CI 0.03, 0.87), having a husband working an unskilled job (AOR = 6.99, 95% CI 1.34, 36.48), women who did not know their husband’s job (AOR = 12.79, 95% CI 2.24, 73.11), having an educated husband (AOR = 5.66, 95% CI 1.36, 23.51), being currently pregnant (AOR = 4.87, 95% CI 1.93, 12.28), being in the richer (AOR = 4.68, 95% CI 1.52, 14.39) and richest (AOR = 6.89, 95% CI 1.90, 24.81) wealth index.ConclusionSTIs related care-seeking behavior was significantly low among Ethiopian women. Surprisingly, STIs related care-seeking behavior was lower among an educated woman. In contrast, having an educated husband, women who didn’t know their husband’s job, a husband working an unskilled job, being pregnant, and high wealth status were positively associated with STIs related care-seeking behavior.
Highlights
Transmitted infections (STIs) are the most common communicable diseases that affect the health and life of people
The odds of Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) related care-seeking behavior of the women whose husbands were working an unskilled job (AOR = 6.99, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.34, 36.48) and who did not know their husband’s job (AOR = 12.79, 95% CI 2.24, 73.11) were higher than those who had an unemployed husband
This study showed that the STIs related care-seeking behavior still remains poor among women in Ethiopia
Summary
Transmitted infections (STIs) are the most common communicable diseases that affect the health and life of people. Even though there is little information on the prevalence of STIs in Ethiopia, the problem is likely similar to other developing countries. STIs are the major public health problem worldwide which affects the quality of life of the people and causes serious morbidity and mortality. Untreated STIs facilitate the transmission and acquisition of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) [7]. These infections constitute huge health and economic burden, in developing countries where they account for 17% of economic losses due to ill-health [3, 5, 8, 9]
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