Knowledge, understanding, and healthcare seeking behaviour of adolescent schoolgirls on sexually transmitted infections in Jalingo Taraba State

Background: Sexually transmitted infections are communicable infections acquired through sexual contact. They remain a major public health problem associated with high mortality and morbidity globally with an estimated 499million new infections each year globally influencing the quality of life, sexual, reproductive health including maternal and child health and affecting mostly young people especially in low- and middle-income countries from which adolescent female are most vulnerable and affected.

Methodology: A descriptive cross sectional study design was conducted where a multistage sampling was used in selecting a total of 317 study participants. A structured self-administered questionnaire was utilized in this study. Data collected was analyzed and results were presented using appropriate tables and charts. Chi square test was carried out to check association between some socio-demographic characteristics and knowledge, understanding and healthcare seeking behaviours at P<0.05 level of significance. 

Result: A total of 317 adolescent schoolgirls from 2private and 2 public secondary school participated in the study. Majority of the study participants had heard about STIs 267(90.2%) with teachers and the media as their major source of information for STIs. Overall, 33.1% of the participant had good knowledge, 48.3% are fairly knowledgeable while 18.6% had poor knowledge of STIs. Understanding of information about STIs was limited where majority of the participants do not perceive themselves to be at risk of contracting STIs. The proportion of healthcare seeking among participants was low and care seeking was majorly from informal sources 36 % (traditional healer) participants also, pointed out confidentiality as major barrier to seeking healthcare.

Conclusion: Knowledge among the study participants was fair for general knowledge but lacked depth, thus pointing out the need for a culturally appropriate comprehensive sexuality educational curriculum, that will improve the overall knowledge of STIs since adolescence provide opportunity to mitigate risk. Another need highlighted by this study is that of a youth friendly affordable sexual and reproductive health service free of discrimination that is accessible to adolescents especially girls.