Prevalence and risk factors for HIV-infection and other sexually transmitted diseases among youth in Moshi rural district, Kilimanjaro region, 1995.

dc.contributor.authorKessy, Anna Tengia
dc.date.accessioned2019-09-17T07:02:12Z
dc.date.accessioned2020-01-08T10:06:09Z
dc.date.available2019-09-17T07:02:12Z
dc.date.available2020-01-08T10:06:09Z
dc.date.issued1996
dc.descriptionAvailable in print formen_US
dc.description.abstractA 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.en_US
dc.identifier.citationKessy, A. T. (1996). Prevalence and risk factors for HIV-infection and other sexually transmitted diseases among youth in Moshi rural district, Kilimanjaro region, 1995. Master dissertation, University of Dar es Salaam. Available at (http://41.86.178.3/internetserver3.1.2/search.aspx?formtype=advanced)en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/6118
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherUniversity of Dar es Salaamen_US
dc.subjectAIDSen_US
dc.subjectSexual transmitted diseasesen_US
dc.subjectMoshi (Rural)en_US
dc.subjectTanzaniaen_US
dc.titlePrevalence and risk factors for HIV-infection and other sexually transmitted diseases among youth in Moshi rural district, Kilimanjaro region, 1995.en_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
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