Health Seeking Behaviour among Individuals with STD Symptoms
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Date
1995-05
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
In Ethiopia and other developing countries the prevalence
of STDs and their complications, as well as, resistance
to antimicrobials is believed to be widespread. A
community-based, cross-sectional study was conducted in
Adami-Tullu Woreda during Sept. - Oct., 1994, to estimate
the prevalence of STDs, and identify determinants of
health seeking behaviour of individuals with STD
symptoms. A total of 2240 individuals aged 12-49 years
were enrolled in to the study using a cluster sampling
method. The two-week prevalence of STD symptoms was 2.5%
among individuals aged 12-49 years. Rate of seeking
health care among individuals with STD symptoms was
26.8%. Perceived severity of illness, and also lack of
money were significant determinants of health care
seeking among individuals with STD symptoms, OR=0.23,
95% CI(0.05,0.95), and OR=3.29, 95% CI (1 . 63,6.66),
respectively. It is concluded that the majority of
individuals with STD symptoms do not seek health care due
to high cost of STD treatment services and also because
the diseases are not considred severe enough . Expansion
of health education and other preventive services
targeted at STDs, and free STD curative services to the
rural communities, are recommended.