Knowledge and Preventive Practices of Sexually Transmitted Infections among Secondary School Students in Edo State

Abstract

Despite interventions, Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) remain huge challenge especially among sexually active age group in developing countries. Adopting strategies to prevent and combat the spread of STIs have become imperative as they are occurring at an alarming rate with adolescents becoming increasingly susceptible. This study examined the knowledge and preventive practices of Sexually Transmitted infections among secondary school students in Edo State, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling procedure was adopted to select 763 students for the study. The instrument was a validated multiple choice and dichotomous scale format questionnaire containing items on knowledge and preventive practices of STIs. Data obtained were analyzed using percentages, means ant t-test statistics. Findings revealed that students had good knowledge of STIs but preventive practices were low. Knowledge, though mainly acquired from teachers did not correlate with preventive practices. The main STIs known by students were HIV/AIDS, Gonorrhea and Syphilis while abstinence was the major preventive practice adopted. It was concluded that although students have good knowledge of STIs, compliance with preventive practices was low. However, the weighted knowledge/preventive score average for the respondents based on their sex and location was poor (<20), a strong indication of the urgent need for educational intervention to increase knowledge that will translate to positive preventive practices