Browsing by Author "Kessy, Anna Tengia"

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    Prevalence and risk factors for HIV-infection and other sexually transmitted diseases among youth in Moshi rural district, Kilimanjaro region, 1995.
    (University of Dar es Salaam, 1996) Kessy, Anna Tengia
    A population-based study was undertaken in the Moshi rural district, Kilimanjaro region during March through June 1995, to determine the prevalence and risk factors for infection with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among youth aged 15-24 years. Subjects were obtained through multistage cluster sampling. Information on sociodemographic characteristics and reproductive health behaviour was obtained using an interview questionnaire. Subjects were examined for signs of STDs and urogenital specimens were screened for Neisseria gonorrhoea and Trichomonas vaginalis organisms. Antibodies to HIV and syphilis infections were determined by ELISA and VDRL/TPHA tests respectively. Out of 1104 youth interviewed, 86 % participated in both genital examination and blood specimen taking. Results showed high prevalence of STDs in general, being 14.2 % for trichomoniasis, 11.6 % for syphilis, 7.5 % for HIV infection, 5.2 % for gonorrhoea and 1.3 % for genital ulcer disease. Past or current histories of STDs were significantly associated with HIV infection. Females, youth aged 20-24 years, married or cohabiting subjects had higher risk of having any of the STDs compared to males, youth aged 15-19 years and single subjects respectively. Results also showed high prevalence of high risk behaviours associated with STDs. Subjects who had had sexual intercourse at least once in their lifetime were 70%, majority (67.3 % ) having had their first coital exposure between 15-19 years of age; 40.5 % had multiple sexual partners; 61 % consumed alcohol and among females who had experienced at least one sexual act, 50 % had received a gift for the first sexual encounter. Majority of the youth had heard of AIDS/STDs and could mention spontaneously the routes of transmission. However, their level of knowledge on preventive measures was generally low. Findings show that high risk behaviours among youth in a rural setting were associated with HIV/STDs, females being more at risk than males. There is therefore, an urgent need to target interventions towards behavioural change among the youth so as to reduce the rate of transmission of these diseases. In order to institute culturally appropriate interventions it is recommended that similar surveys be carried out in other cultural settings.