Abstract:


Background:The highest rate of new cases of STI per 1000 population has occurred in Sub-Saharan Africa. Recent data have reported an increase in STI among youth in Tanzania. Studies have shown a higher prevalence of knowledge on STIs regarding etiological factors, modes of transmission and prevention. The prevalence of STIs is higher regardless of higher level of knowledge reported. Therefore a need exist to look for those factors that pose a barrier to appropriate utilization of knowledge on STIs, also those factors that impair appropriate health seeking behavior among youth.

Objective: To determine the factors associated with prevention and health seeking behavior towards sexually Transmitted infection among secondary school student in Butiama district, Mara Region.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was done. Three hundred and twenty two youth were interviewed. Structured questionnaire were used for data collection. A research assistant assisted to interview the youth. The information which was collected in questionnaires was checked every evening after collection to ensure they were properly filled and any mistake identified was corrected.

Result: Among 322 secondary school student involved in the study, 52 students (16.1%) aged at the range of 12-14 years. The predominant group was of 143 students (44.4%) who aged from 18-20 years. Among the sources of information dealt in this study, Radio appeared to be the leading source compared to the others source which are Television, Parents, Newspaper Friends, School and Books. 26 students (8.1%) of the enrolled participants were ever had STI where by the remaining student 296 (91.9) were not 260 students went for seeking care to the health center, among those form three students appeared to be dominating. This was followed by STI clinic which occupied 122 students, then pharmacy which had 60 students, others 20 students. Traditional healers appeared to a least place where a smallest number of students did go that is 8 students. Accessibility appeared to be the leading reasons as for why students seek services for STIs, good Cooperation of health workers with patients is a second reason for secondary school students to seek services for STIs. Confidentiality of the service provider’s cheapness of the service and other factors also contributing on influencing the participants to seek for the service against STIs as analyzed in the table above. It shows that in spite of these students being aware of the condoms, they seldom use them during sexual intercourse. As the data represents that is only 20 students out of 322 interviewed students were using condoms during sexual intercourse.

Conclusion: Overall, these finding suggest a high sexual activity among the respondents. Despite STIs being rampant among young people worldwide secondary school youth at Butiama District have relatively low level of knowledge on STIs. Finally, although family life education has been integrated into the school national curriculum, majority of the respondents still get most of the information on STIs via the media.