An Assessment of Sexually Transmitted Infection Management at the Primary Health Care Level in a Local Government in Northern Nigeria

Abstract

s h o r t c o M M u n I c A t I o n I J M E D P hAddress for correspondence: Phone No.: +234(0)803 7013141 E-mail: debolaola@yahoo.com DOI: 10.5530/ijmedph.2.2011.16 poorest nations of the world, many of which are found in sub-Saharan Africa. 2,3,4 The control of STIs is seen as an important reproductive health strategy due to its short and long term complications in obstetric and neonatal matters. Its control is also a key strategy in reducing the spread of HIV which is presently a ravaging epidemic especially in sub -Saharan Africa. Not only is the prevention and management of STIs an important public health concern in itself, but also the presence of some STIs enhances the transmission of HIV; and STI prevention and management has been shown to be effective in reducing HIV transmission. 4,5,6 STIs also carry the potential risks of serious complications including fetal wastage, stillbirths, infertility, ectopic pregnancy, anogenital cancer, premature death, as well as INTRODUCTIONSexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) are reproductive tract Infections (RTIs) that are transmitted by sexual means. STIs continue to be a serious public health problem all over the world especially in sub-Saharan Africa. A B s t r A c tBackground: the control of sexually transmitted Infections (stIs) is an important strategy in reproductive health and hIV/AIDs control. It should be such that comprehensive management of patients with stIs is available at the primary health care level. this study was to assess the quality of stI care at the primary health care level in Zaria. Method: It was a descriptive cross-sectional study in which a three-part structured questionnaire was administered to all staff who provided clinical services to patients seeking stI services in the 28 operational health centres in the local government area and these facilities were also assessed using a checklist. Results: over half of the respondents are females (54.5%), while the modal age group was 35-39years (36.4%). Most of the staff providing clinical including stI services were senior community health Extension Workers (schEWs) (72.7%) with only 5(9.1%) nurses/midwives and 2(3.5%) being Community Health Officers (CHOs). There were training gaps identified with only 16.3% trained on STI counseling only; the 3.6% trained on syndromic management were the chos who had no knowledge of the 4cs of syndromic management. While counseling of patients was routinely done by 92.7% of respondents and 70.9% promoted the use of condoms; assessment of attitude to stIs showed that 70.9% of respondents felt that stIs are as a result of promiscuity, 78.2% believed that condoms would encourage promiscuity and 45.5% felt religion is against the use of condoms. however, 92.7% are of the opinion that condom use is protective against stIs. Many of the respondents (81.8%) support that all STI patients be screened for HIV; while 23.6% support the screening of spouses for STIs. Assessment of facilities available at the health centres show that none was adequately equipped for th...

Quality of Care for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) Syndromic Case Management at Public Health Facilities of Gamo Gofa Zone, Southern Ethiopia

“…This is consistent with the finding of study conducted in Zaria, Northern Nigeria which showed no center had the Syndromic management manual or chart. 19 However, this finding is far lower than that of the finding from study conducted in South Africa where 3 out of 4 Regional clinics have guideline in each consultation rooms. 20 This may be attributed to the fact that South Africa has been working hardest to control STIs more.…”