Abstract:

Background: STIs are a major public health problem not only because they are among the most common causes of illness in the world, but also because of the potentially serious complication of untreated STIs and because of the relationship between STIs and increase HIV transmission. The primary objective of the study was to determine the “factors associated with prevention and health seeking behavior towards sexually transmission infections among youths”.

Methods: A qualitative descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from August – September 2013 at Kasulu district, Kigoma Tanzania. Data were collected by using structured questionnaire and results were analysed using SPSS version 17.0.

Results: A total of 330 students were included in the study a Age (15-25 years). Males constituted 53% while females were 47%. The study found that health seeking behaviours among young people is poor. Females had very poor access to health services compared with males. There was quite high level knowledge about condoms among young people (38.36%) but practice of correct and consistent use in premarital and extramarital sexual relations with non-regular partners is low. It was shown that most youth kept secret from their families when they had STIs, different reasons for keeping secret were given but majority (57.04%) stated that was to avoid stigmas from their families.

Conclusion: Programs and policies that aim to increase knowledge through seminars, mass media of STIs need to conduct by ministry of health and other NGOs to the community level so that effective diagnosis and treatment of STIs can be archived effectively.