Awareness and predictors of knowledge about sexually transmitted diseases among early adolescents in koforidua, ghana: a mixed-methods study.

IF 3.4 2区医学 Q1 PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH

Reproductive Health Pub Date : 2025-10-06 DOI:10.1186/s12978-025-02070-6

Richard Ofori, Mary Sefa Boampong, Andrew Nketsia Arthur, Dorcas Sekyi, Seth Christopher Yaw Appiah

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background: This study explores the awareness and predictors of knowledge regarding sexually transmitted diseases among early adolescents (ages 11-15) in the Koforidua Municipality.

Methods: The study was designed as convergent parallel mixed-methods research hinged on an analytical cross-sectional and descriptive phenomenological design. In all, 373 adolescents were surveyed, obtaining varied insights across different demographic groups, with an additional 10 interviews conducted for qualitative analysis. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multilevel logistic regression, while the qualitative data were thematically analyzed.

Results: Two-thirds (67.3%) of early adolescents reported awareness of STDs. 134(53.4%) out of the 251 early adolescents who were aware of STDs opted to test for them. HIV (M = 1.33, SD = 0.699), and Gonorrhea (M = 1.55, SD = 0.827) were the most commonly recognized infections but misconceptions about Syphilis (M = 1.94, SD = 0.929), Chlamydia (M = 2.49, SD = 0.778), Genital wart (M = 2.35, SD = 0.854) and Hepatitis (M = 2.36, SD = 0.755) as types of STDs were dominant. Early adolescents in Junior High School -JHS1 (AOR 0.307 (95.0% CI 0.111-0.847 p = 0.023), JHS 2 (AOR 0.201 (95.0% CI 0.070-0.579 p = 0.003), JHS 3 (AOR 0.134 (95.0% CI 0.043-0.414 p = 0.00) were less likely to know STDs compared to those in primary six. Early adolescents who had never dated (AOR 0.705 (95.0% CI 0.423-1.173 p = 0.014) were also less likely to know about STDs compared to those who had ever dated.

Conclusion: The findings highlight the need for the Ghana Education Service to integrate comprehensive sexual health education into primary and junior high school curricula to improve STD knowledge among early adolescents.

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加纳科福里杜瓦早期青少年对性传播疾病知识的认识和预测因素：一项混合方法研究。

背景：本研究探讨了科福里杜瓦市早期青少年（11-15岁）对性传播疾病知识的认识和预测因素。方法：本研究设计为收敛平行混合方法研究，以分析横截面和描述现象学设计为基础。总共调查了373名青少年，获得了不同人口群体的不同见解，并进行了另外10次访谈以进行定性分析。定量数据采用描述性统计和多水平逻辑回归进行分析，定性数据采用主题分析。结果：三分之二（67.3%）的青少年早期意识到性传播疾病。在251名意识到性传播疾病的早期青少年中，有134人（53.4%）选择进行检测。HIV （M = 1.33, SD = 0.699）和淋病（M = 1.55, SD = 0.827）是最常见的感染性疾病，但对梅毒（M = 1.94, SD = 0.929）、衣原体（M = 2.49, SD = 0.778）、生殖器疣（M = 2.35, SD = 0.854）和肝炎（M = 2.36, SD = 0.755）的认识存在误区。初中生jhs1 (AOR为0.307 （95.0% CI 0.111 ~ 0.847 p = 0.023）、jhs2 (AOR为0.201 （95.0% CI 0.070 ~ 0.579 p = 0.003）、jhs3 (AOR为0.134 （95.0% CI 0.043 ~ 0.414 p = 0.00）对性传播疾病的知晓率低于小学六年级。与曾经约会过的青少年相比，从未约会过的早期青少年(AOR 0.705 （95.0% CI 0.423-1.173 p = 0.014）也更不可能知道性传播疾病。结论：研究结果强调了加纳教育服务中心需要将全面的性健康教育纳入小学和初中课程，以提高早期青少年的性病知识。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Reproductive Health PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH-

CiteScore

6.00

自引率

5.90%

发文量

220

审稿时长

>12 weeks

期刊介绍： Reproductive Health focuses on all aspects of human reproduction. The journal includes sections dedicated to adolescent health, female fertility and midwifery and all content is open access. Reproductive health is defined as a state of physical, mental, and social well-being in all matters relating to the reproductive system, at all stages of life. Good reproductive health implies that people are able to have a satisfying and safe sex life, the capability to reproduce and the freedom to decide if, when, and how often to do so. Men and women should be informed about and have access to safe, effective, affordable, and acceptable methods of family planning of their choice, and the right to appropriate health-care services that enable women to safely go through pregnancy and childbirth.