CHAPTRER ONE

INTRODUCTION

• Background

Sexually transmissible infections (STIs) are a group of infections primarily affecting the sexually active population and has led to a major public health problem in the reproductive age group 15-35years. These infections are largely acquired through sexual contact or close contact with genitals, leading to potentially devastating effects. Sexually transmitted infections are caused either by viruses, parasites or bacteria, which are transmitted mostly through sexual contact involving oral, vaginal and anal sex or from mother to child during pregnancy and childbirth. Nigerian youths especially the school drop outs have been reported to be one of the risk groups for STIs, including HIV and AIDS as a result of high-risk sexual behavior, early marriages and sexual debut. Despite these obvious facts, the society is ill prepared and or reluctant to handle sexual challenges due mainly to societal prejudices, religious and cultural barrier hindrances. More than 30 bacterial, viral and parasitic pathogens have now been identified that are transmissible by sexual route. About half of them has sexual transmission as the dominant route of spread, and cause sexually transmitted infections (STIs), formerly called sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) have been recognized as a major public health problem for years. In the world development report, estimates suggested that in demographically developing countries, STIs excluding HIV accounted for 8.9% of the disease burden in women   aged 15-35years and 1.5% in men in the same age group. This ranked STIs excluding HIV as the second major cause of loss of fertility in women of reproductive age. High prevalence of Neisseria gonorrhea infection, syphilis, trichonomas vaginitis infection and chlamydia trachomatis infection have been documented among urban antenatal clinic attendees in several African countries, and attention has been drawn to the public health on consequences of this situation in terms of pregnancy wastage, neonatal morbidity, infertility and ectopic pregnancy. Little is known about the prevalence of STIs and other reproductive tract infections among rural African women. Arya et al., found a high prevalence of gonorrhea in the Teso district of Uganda, whereas a small study in the Gambia found that the prevalence of NG, CT and TV infections were somewhat lower in rural than those in urban population. A population-based survey in the Mwanza Region of the United Republic of Tanzania showed that the prevalence of untreated syphilis among rural women was 7.9%. The United States has the highest STI rates in the developed world. It has an STI rate of 124 per 100,000 people and a third highest rate of chlamydia of 479 per 100,000 people. STI rate increase in the United States for many reasons, including decrease condom use amongst vulnerable groups such as young people, gay and bisexual men. Additionally, states and local programs have experienced budget cuts, resulting in clinic closures, decreased screenings, care and reduced patient follow- up. The states with the highest STI rates are Mississippi, Alaska and Louisiana.

• Problem Statement

Sexually transmissible infections (STIs) are infections that are transmitted from one person to another through sexual contacts. These infections are common in both men and women and it affects the genitals and reproductive organs. These infections are a call for concern because many children born nowadays come down with them. Signs and symptoms of STIs include; painful or burning urination, itching and redness in the genital area, discharge from the genitals or anus (odorous), pain during sex, warts around your genitals or anus. These infections can bring about life threatening complications such as pelvic inflammatory diseases (PID), infertility, tubal or ectopic pregnancy, cervical cancer, congenital infections, perinatal infections (conjunctivitis). These complications could be more fatal in pregnant women due to their immune-compromised status. Taking into consideration the severe nature of these complications and the measures put in place to prevent the spread of these STIs; many individuals still come down with them. This could be an indication that they may not be aware of the risk factors or may have little knowledge concerning the transmission of these STIs. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the knowledge and on the consequences of sexually transmissible infections and predisposing factors on women of childbearing age (15-35) years in Acha Hospital Bafoussam.

• Significance of Study

The important of study is to develop strategies in order to remedy the situation by offering free campaign programs yearly for women to be screened for STIs and also to help health care workers to be able create awareness to the population concerning STIs.

  Also, to give the women knowledge about STIs, its consequences and management       as they will come to know their status and hence those affected will seek medical attention.

Partial fulfillment for the award of a Bachelor’s Degree and equally to blend theory and practice together. It will equally add more knowledge for other researchers to use in future as far as STIs are concerned.

• RESEARCH QUESTIONS
  • Main Research Question
• What is the knowledge on the consequences of sexually transmissible infections and predisposing factors on women of childbearing age (15-35) years in Acha Hospital Bafoussam?
• Assessing knowledge on the consequences of STIs and its predisposing factors on women of childbearing age (15-35) years in PHC Acha Bafoussam
  • Specific Research Objectives
• To describe the socio-demographic profile of women of childbearing age (15-35) years on the impacts of STIs in PHC Acha Bafoussam
• Assess the level of knowledge of women of childbearing age (15-35) years on the predisposing factors of STIs in PHC Acha Hospital Bafoussam.
  • Specific Research Questions
• What is the knowledge on the consequences of sexually transmissible infections on women of childbearing age (15-35) years in Acha Hospital Bafoussam?
• What is the knowledge on the predisposing factors of sexually transmissible infections on women of childbearing age (15-35) years in Acha Hospital Bafoussam?