Abstract:
A study to determine some factors that affected STD treatment seeking behaviour among adolescents students in Senior Secondary School was carried out in the Asuogyaman District of the Eastern Region of Ghana in May 1997. In all 62 students who had suffered STDs in the past were respondents to the questionnaire. Seventy one percent (71%) of respondents were males and 85.5% of respondents were aged between 17 and 20 years. 62% usually lived in a rural area. All respondents had some knowledge about STDs and each could mention at least one STD. Forty percent (40%) knew AIDS as an STD and 95% attributed STD’s to having sex with an infected individual. The study revealed that 93% of respondents perceived a hospital/clinic as the best source of STD treatment and yet only 3 4% actually sought treatment from a hospital/clinic during their STD episode. Some reasons for this apparent discrepancy were that of high charges, inconvenience in the use of hospital/clinic and the wish of the afflicted to conceal their identity to avoid embarrassment. Other sources of treatment used by the remaining 66% were self-medication, herbalists, nurse acquaintance, friends. Chemical shops were the most common source used by respondents. Majority of respondents (82%) perceived that STD treatment should be sought immediately symptoms were noticed. 77% and 79% respectively preferred specialized STD clinics and a laboratory service prior to treatment. Short waiting time drug availability and confidentiality were factors that affected use of various STD services. The findings from this study are consistent with the hypothesis that was made i.e. that treatment seeking behavior in STDs is both a function o f attitudes towards disease and sex and the issues of accessibility and quality of health care facilities that deal with STDs. The findings colloborate those in the literature review except for the place o f residence where the study found a preponderance of respondents who usually lived in a rural area [9, 22], It may be important to continue with efforts to demystify STDs and remove the stigma attached to it by constantly discussing them. Since only a third of the respondents actually used hospitals/clinics it may be useful to equip alternative care providers with requisite knowledge to effectively manage STDs. Quality o f care in hospitals/clinics need to be improved to attract more STD patients.
