Dadzie, Louis Kobina, Agbaglo, Ebenezer, Okyere, Joshua, Aboagye, Richard Gyan, Arthur-Holmes, Francis, Seidu, Abdul-Aziz, and Ahinkorah, Bright Opoku (2022) Self-reported sexually transmitted infections among adolescent girls and young women in sub-Saharan Africa. International Health, 14 (6). pp. 545-553.

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Abstract

Background: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) affect individuals of all ages, but adolescent girls and young women are disproportionately affected. We examined the prevalence and factors associated with self-reported STIs (SR-STIs) among adolescent girls and young women in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).

Methods: Demographic and Health Survey data of 27 sub-Saharan African countries were used for the study. The sample size comprised 68944 adolescent girls and young women (15–24 y of age). The outcome variable was SR-STIs. Multilevel binary logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with SR-STIs.

Results: On average, the prevalence of SR-STIs among adolescent girls and young women in SSA was 6.92%. The likelihood of SR-STIs was higher among young women aged 20–24 y (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.36 [confidence interval {CI} 1.27 to 1.46]), those not married (aOR 1.64 [CI 1.51 to 1.79]), those working (aOR 1.20 [CI 1.12 to 1.27]), those whose age at first sex was ≤19 y (aOR 1.99 [CI 1.80 to 2.20]), those with two or more sex partners (aOR 1.56 [CI 1.35 to 1.80]), those who listened to radio (aOR 1.26 [CI 1.17 to 1.35]), those in urban areas (aOR 1.42 [CI 1.30 to 1.51]) and those with a wealth index of rich (aOR 1.28 [CI 1.17 to 1.40]) compared with their counterparts. In contrast, those with a primary (aOR 0.86 [CI 0.78 to 0.94]) or secondary/higher level of education (aOR 0.83 [CI 0.75 to 0.92]) compared with those with no formal education and those who were exposed to television (aOR 0.90 [CI 0.84 to 0.98]) compared with those who were not exposed were less likely to report STIs.

Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate the need for countries in SSA to commit towards reducing the incidence of STIs. Community-based health educational programs are required to intensify the awareness of STIs and their prevention in various sub-Saharan African countries considering the factors that expose adolescent girls and young women to STIs.

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