Socio-cultural practices and sexually transmitted infections in Dodoma Region, Tanzania

The study was conducted in Dodoma Municipality, Bahi and Chamwino districts. The objectives of the study were to examine the modes of spread of STIs, investigate the knowledge, awareness and prevalence of STIs, assess the relationship between socio-cultural practices and STIs and evaluate the socio-cultural strategies to address the spread of STIs. The study involved 530 respondents. Structured, semi structured questionnaires, checklist, documentary review, focus group discussion tools/methods were used for data collection. SPSS was used for data processing. Frequency distributions, cross tabulations and Logistic regression were used for data analysis. The findings show that heterosexual is the leading mode of STIs transmission. Modes of transmission include endogenous, iatrogenic, vertical transmission, sexual transmission and blood transfusion. The top five STIs were Syphilis (23%), Gonorrhoea (22%), HIV/AIDS (20%), Genital Herpes (14%) and Granuloma inguinale (10%). The study found that the cultural practises which influence the spread of STIs/HIV/AIDS include polygamy, sharing sex partners, putting products in the vagina, genital mutilation and circumcision. Interventions to control the spread of STIs were STIs syndromic treatment, STIs/HIV/AIDS testing, advocate of ABC, antiretroviral drug, and stop breastfeeding and women folk interventions. The study concludes that STIs/HIV/AIDS exist in the study area. Each of eight cultural practices is more than one times likely to report at least one symptom of STIs. Some socio cultural practices can be changed into STIs/HIV/AIDS prevention. Polygamous network makes difficult to control the spread of STIs, partners continue re-infecting each other. Partners can be infected during wearing and removing a condom and use of one close to wipe the genital parts after sex. Unhygienic medical services may lead to spread of STIs. The study recommends that partners in polygamous network should be tested altogether; STIs should be integrated into antenatal clinic program. STIs/HIV/AIDS coordinators should be empowered in data management. Female’s folk initiatives for preventing the spread of STIs should be promoted. Antiretroviral drug for STIs/HIV positive pregnant and lactating mothers should be encouraged. Polygamous partner should be encouraged to test and get treatment all together. The study recommends that more research is needed on socio-cultural practices which can be converted into STIs/HIV prevention. Area specific STIs/HIV policies and related strategy should be developed.