Abstract:

The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge of STIs to school going adolescent in transmission, symptoms and preventions. Also to assess if they know the commons STIs and they are mains sources of the information.

A cross-sectional descriptive analytical study was done where by a total of 200 students were involved from three different secondary schools in Sumbawanga municipal. A structured questionnaire including data on social demographic, sources of STIs information, example of STIs known to them, ways of transmission, symptoms of STIs, high groups to get STIs, ways of STIs prevents, complications of STIs, advantage of using condom, are they using condom and why.

There were 200 cases. 14.5% of participant thought that the only means of STIs transmission is sexual intercourse, 43% they have a wide knowledge that STIs cannot be transmitted by unprotected sexual intercourse but can be also transmitted by other ways (indirect). 41% they have correct and incorrect knowledge on STIs transmission 82% have correct knowledge on symptom of STIs, 14% have mixer of correct and incorrect knowledge about STIs symptoms. 61.5% know correct ways of prevention of STIs, 1% has incorrect knowledge and 38% has mixer of incorrect and correct knowledge on STIs prevention. 86.5% have multiple source of information about STIs, 13.5% have single source of information about STIs. 60% known the common STIs, 39.5% know the common STIs but they also have incorrect knowledge about UTI and fungus as examples of sexual transmitted infections.

Therefore majority of school going adolescent have knowledge about STIs at Sumbawanga district but effort should made to minority who lack knowledge.