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Curable sexually transmitted infections (STIs) heavily rely on laboratory testing methods. Unfortunately, these diagnostic tools are infrequently used in certain regions of the country, which often results in suboptimal treatment for these infections. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of selected curable STIs among pregnant women.
Cross-sectional study.
The study was conducted in an antenatal care (ANC) unit in one of Southern Ethiopia’s general hospitals.
A total of 244 consecutive pregnant women attending the ANC follow-up were recruited for the study. All pregnant women have equal opportunity to participate; however, women who declined to be interviewed or give a sample were excluded. Pregnant women on antibiotic treatments were also excluded.
The study assessed the prevalence of selected curable STIs and associated factors. Neisseria gonorrhoea was diagnosed by culture, trichomoniasis by microscopic examination and syphilis by serological testing using a rapid diagnostic test cassette. Test results for trichomoniasis and gonorrhoea were obtained from vaginal and endocervical swabs. Factors associated with curable STIs were evaluated by bivariable and multivariate logistic regression.
The overall prevalence of curable STIs was 16.4% (40/244), with prevalence of 2% for gonorrhoea, 15.2% for trichomoniasis and 1.2% for syphilis. Alcohol intake (adjusted OR (AOR)=3.0; 95% CI 1.1 to 8.3; p=0.030), symptomatic treatment (AOR=3.6; 95% CI 1.4 to 8.6; p=0.004), residency (AOR=3.2; 95% CI 1.2 to 9.1; p=0.022) and pain while urinating (AOR=4.0; 95% CI 1.6 to 9.7; p=0.002) were all found to be associated with the existence of these STIs. This study has limitations; the cross-sectional study design and small sample size would provide limited information about factors associated with curable maternal STIs.
The study reveals a high prevalence of curable STIs among the participants, highlighting the need for further research aimed at improving their management during pregnancy.
by Mesfin Abebe, Yordanos Sisay Asgedom, Amanuel Yosef Gebrekidan, Tsion Mulat Tebeje
BackgroundBreast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women globally and a significant public health burden in sub-Saharan Africa, which accounts for approximately 15% of all cancer-related mortality. In sub-Saharan Africa, breast cancer incidences increased by 247% from 1990 to 2019. In Lesotho, breast cancer is the second most common cancer affecting women, a situation worsened by a fragile healthcare system and low screening rates. Despite its high morbidity and mortality, there is limited understanding of the factors influencing breast cancer screening among women of reproductive age. This study aims to identify these factors by utilizing the newly released Lesotho DHS dataset and the Anderson Behavioral Model.
MethodsThis study utilized a cross-sectional design with data from the recent Lesotho Demographic and Health Survey (LDHS), which employed a stratified two-stage sampling method across 400 Enumeration Areas and 9,976 households. This analysis included a weighted sample of 6,413 reproductive-age women (15–49 years) to determine factors of breast cancer screening. The predisposing, enabling, and need factors were examined using the Andersen Behavioral Model. Stata version 16 was used for a multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression model. Results were presented as adjusted odds ratios (AOR) with 95% confidence intervals, and a P-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
ResultsThe prevalence of breast cancer screening among women of reproductive age in Lesotho was 22.20% (95% CI 21.19–23.23). Significant factors included age 25–34 (AOR = 1.54; 95% CI 1.26–1.88), age 35–49 (AOR = 2.10; 95% CI 1.71–2.58), healthcare facility visits in the past 12 months (AOR = 1.47; 95% CI 1.26–1.71), health insurance coverage (AOR = 1.86; 95% CI 1.36–2.53), high media exposure (AOR = 1.23; 95% CI 1.01–2.52), contraceptive use (AOR = 1.18; 95% CI 1.03–1.37), and parity: multiparous (AOR = 2.29; 95% CI 1.84–2.85) and grand multiparous (AOR = 1.67; 95% CI 1.16–2.40).
ConclusionThis finding that 22.2% of reproductive age women in Lesotho underwent breast cancer screening highlights a pressing gap in preventive health efforts. The Andersen Behavioral Model underscores key determinants that significantly influence breast cancer screening uptake in our study. Significant factors included age, healthcare facility visits, health insurance coverage, media exposure, contraceptive usage, and parity. These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions that address model-based determinants to improve breast cancer screening uptake.
FreshRSS 