Teshome, Sintayehu (2003) Health Seeking Behaviour for STDs among Soldiers in Core One Hundred Eighth of the Ethiopian Army. Masters thesis, Addis Ababa University.
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Abstract
A community based descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted to describe the healthseeking behaviour for STDs and determine the factors associated with the health-seeking behaviour of soldiers in Core One Hundred Eighth of the Ethiopian army. The study was conducted in Tigray Regional State from December 2002 to February 2003. A sample proportionate to population size was drawn from each units of the Core and subjects were selected using a systematic random sampling technique. Data were collected from 384 subjects that reported having had one or more STD related genital symptoms during the one year recall period using a structured questionnaire. Among the sample, while awareness about gonorrhoea, syphilis, chancroid, and lymphogranuloma venerum was found to be fairly high, knowledge about the other STDs was low. A substantial number of respondents were found to have misconceptions and/or erroneous knowledge about the risk factors and preventive methods of STDs. Among study subjects, more urethral discharge, genital ulcer, genital blister, and painful micturation were found to be associated with STDs than the other genital symptoms (OR = 9.87 (5.29 – 19.27). Peers were found to be the most important sources of information for STD related genital symptoms. The rate of treatment-seeking was 72.1%. Thought of having some kind of illness during having the symptom, severity of symptoms, perceived source of most effective treatment for the symptom and working assignment units were found to be significantly associated with treatment receipt (P < 0.05). Geographic proximity to units, marital status, and age were found to be significant determinants of choice of treatment sources (between those under Ministry of Defence and outside Ministry of Defence) (P < 0.05). Geographic proximity to units, association of genital symptoms with STDs, severity of symptoms, and working assignment units were found to be significantly associated with time of attendance to treatment sources (P < 0.05). In addition, attendance totreatment sources at earlier symptomatic stages was found to correlate with longer military service (P < 0.05). Health education interventions should be strengthened and expanded to include the second generation STDs. Health education interventions should emphasise the risk factors, and preventive methods of STDs, and on the creation of demand and positive attitude towards modern services. The Ministry of Defence needs to look for a way to allow soldiers with STD related genital symptoms to receive care at any of the Ministry’s treatment centres nearby their locations at times when they are away from their units. Studies concerning quality of treatment sources under Ministry of Defence should be carried-out to improve social accessibility of the treatment sources.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Masters) |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine |
| Divisions: | Africana |
| Depositing User: | Emmanuel Ndorimana |
| Date Deposited: | 10 Aug 2018 08:49 |
| Last Modified: | 10 Aug 2018 08:49 |
| URI: | http://thesisbank.jhia.ac.ke/id/eprint/8030 |
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