Abstract:

Background: Sexually transmitted infections are group of syndromes transmitted through sexual contact caused by bacteria, viruses or parasites. Sexually transmitted infections have been conventionally recognized as a major public and social health problem for a number of years. More than 1 million STIs are acquired every day and over 100 million STIs occur each year under the age of 25. Centre of disease control estimate that 19 million new infections occur each year, almost half of them among people age 15-24 years which is the school age. In Tanzania, approximately 17 percent of children under the age of 15 years had been infected by STIs, and about 50 percent of STIs occur before the age of 29 years.

Objective: This study aimed in assessing the knowledge and about STIs among secondary school students.

Methodology: The study was prospective cross sectional study which included a total number of 346 students from different public and private schools in Songea municipal. Data collected by using Questionnaire and data entry and analysis was done in excel and SPSS version 20, Chi square test and P value of <0.05 considered to be significant.

Results and Discussion: Majority of the students 325(93.9%) said have heard about sexually transmitted infections. Nevertheless, their knowledge about STIs based on means of contracting and transmission of the disease, ability to mention different types of STIs, and common symptoms of STIs was good. There was significant association between the class levels and ability to mention many sexually transmitted infections, where by in form one majority of them were able to mention at most two diseases in contract to other high class levels where majority of them were able to mention at least three diseases (x2 = 26.7, p-value = 0.045). However, 99.2% of those who denied to have special programs on teaching reproductive health particularly STIs admitted that there is the need of having that special program.

Conclusion: Generally, the knowledge of the secondary school students about sexually transmitted infections is good for both male and female based on the assessment ability to mention different types of STIs, ability to identify ways for contracting and transmitting the diseases, and common symptoms and signs of STIs. The media media, like Television/radio, newspapers, as well as public talks/seminars are still effective means of educating students as well as the society.