Knowledge and practices of female students at University of Kara regarding sexually transmitted infections in Togo, 2021

Gatibe Yendu-Suglpak Gnatou; Fifonsi Adjidossi Gbeasor-Komlanvi; Arnold Junior Sadio; Yao Rodion Konu; Martin Kouame Tchankoni; Wendpouiré Ida Carine Zida-Compaore; Amegnona Agbonon; Didier Koumavi Ekouevi

doi:10.4081/jphia.2022.2225

Authors

Gatibe Yendu-Suglpak Gnatou
gatibe.gnatou.2017@alumni-usenghor.org
Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Lomé; African Centre for Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CARESP), Lomé, Togo.
Fifonsi Adjidossi Gbeasor-Komlanvi Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Lomé, Togo; African Centre for Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CARESP), Lomé, Togo. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1744-0454
Arnold Junior Sadio Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Lomé, Togo; African Centre for Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CARESP), Lomé, Togo. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5893-0663
Yao Rodion Konu Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Lomé, Togo; African Centre for Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CARESP), Lomé, Togo. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0506-0008
Martin Kouame Tchankoni African Centre for Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CARESP), Lomé, Togo. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9873-3293
Wendpouiré Ida Carine Zida-Compaore Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Lomé, Togo; African Centre for Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CARESP), Lomé, Togo. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5584-8111
Amegnona Agbonon Laboratory of Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Lomé, Togo.
Didier Koumavi Ekouevi Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Lomé, Togo; Institute of Public Health and Development, University of Bordeaux, France. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7644-9902

A good knowledge of sexually transmitted infections (STI) in female students is an important element in the prevention of STI transmission. The objective of this study is to describe the level of knowledge and practices on STI among female students at the University of Kara. A cross-sectional study was conducted at the University of Kara from July to September 2021. Data were collected using a standard, digitalised, selfadministered questionnaire. Logistic regression analysis was used to describe factors associated with the level of knowledge of STIs. A total of 1,055 female students with a median age of 21 years (interquartile range: 20-24) participated in the study. More than one-third (33.7%) of the students had good knowledge of STI. Having already been tested for HIV (aOR=3.25; 95% CI 2.36-4.52), having already had sex (aOR=1.56; 95% CI 1.10-2.24) and the level of education (AOR=3.46; 95% CI 2.10-5.85) were significantly associated with good STIs knowledge. Among the 723 female students (68.5%) who already had sex, 32.5% reported inconsistent use of condoms during sexual intercourse and 18.9% reported having multiple sexual partners. The results of this study highlight the importance of intensifying STIs prevention efforts (awareness, screening, and vaccination) among female students at the University of Kara.

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Gnatou, G. Y.-S., Gbeasor-Komlanvi, F. A., Sadio, A. J., Konu, Y. R., Tchankoni, M. K., Zida-Compaore, W. I. C., Agbonon, A., & Ekouevi, D. K. (2022). Knowledge and practices of female students at University of Kara regarding sexually transmitted infections in Togo, 2021. Journal of Public Health in Africa, 13(2). https://doi.org/10.4081/jphia.2022.2225

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Copyright (c) 2022 Gatibe Yendu-Suglpak Gnatou, Fifonsi Adjidossi Gbeasor-Komlanvi, Arnold Junior Sadio, Yao Rodion Konu, Martin Kouame Tchankoni, Wendpouiré Ida Carine Zida- Compaore, Amegnona Agbonon, Didier Koumavi Ekouevi