Health Seeking Behaviour Among Individuals With Std Symptoms

In Ethiopia and other developing countries the prevalencernof STDs and their complications, as well as, resistancernto antimicrobials is believed to be widespread. Arncommunity-based, cross-sectional study was conducted inrnAdami-Tullu Woreda during Sept. - Oct., 1994, to estimaternthe prevalence of STDs, and identify determinants ofrnhealth seeking behaviour of individuals with STDrnsymptoms. A total of 2240 individuals aged 12-49 yearsrnwere enrolled in to the study using a cluster samplingrnmethod. The two-week prevalence of STD symptoms was 2.5%rnamong individuals aged 12-49 years. Rate of seekingrnhealth care among individuals with STD symptoms wasrn26.8%. Perceived severity of illness, and also lack ofrnmoney were significant determinants of health carernseeking among individuals with STD symptoms, OR=0.23,rn95% CI(0.05,0.95), and OR=3.29, 95% CI (1 . 63,6.66),rnrespectively. It is concluded that the majority ofrnindividuals with STD symptoms do not seek health care duernto high cost of STD treatment services and also becausernthe diseases are not considred severe enough . Expansionrnof health education and other preventive servicesrntargeted at STDs, and free STD curative services to thernrural communities, are recommended.

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