Knowledge, attitudes and practices of adolescents towards prevention of sexually transmitted infections in Mpigi Town Council, Mpigi District.

Abstract

With the ever-growing number of STI infections in Mpigi Town Council, the available medical support systems seem not to keep up with the ever increasing number of infection in one of Town Council’s remote settings. The study was guided by the objectives that aimed at assessing the knowledge, attitudes and practices of adolescents towards Sexually Transmitted Infections among adolescents in Mpigi Town Council in Mpigi District. The research employed both qualitative and quantitative approaches. The data collection methods involved face to face interviews in which a standardize structured questionnaire was employed to obtain data from the primary respondents, unstructured interviews were also done to understand the different feelings that surrounds the Sexually Transmitted Infections, observation and key informant interviews were employed as well to supplement the findings. The study sample comprised of 70 primary respondents which were selected using purposive sampling technique and 20 household heads who have had or come in contact with survivors of STIs as well as 15 key informants. The study findings revealed that a substantial number of adolescents have low level of knowledge, a positive attitude to words STI prevention and engage in practice that protect from them from spreading and acquiring infection in Mpigi Town Council. Amongst the challenges faced by the adolescents include poverty, domestic violence, child labor and child abuse. The study concluded with recommending the need for increased sensitization of the communities about the effects of adolescents on education and emphasis should also be put Reproductive Health Services . This can be done through mass media platforms, community dialogues on the rights of adolescents and also church leaders since people listen to them in most cases.