TY - JOUR
T1 - STI treatment-seeking behaviors among youth in Nigeria
T2 - Are there gender differences?
AU - Mmari, Kristin N.
AU - Oseni, Ololade
AU - Fatusi, Adesegun O.
N1 - Copyright:
Copyright 2020 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2010
Y1 - 2010
N2 - Context: There is little research on STIs among young people in Nigeria. It is important to determine gender differences in health-seeking behaviors among youth with self-reported STI symptoms. Methods: Data from 538 males and females aged 15-24 with at least one STI symptom were drawn from the 2003 and 2005 National HIV/AIDS and Reproductive Health Surveys. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to determine gender differences among those who had sought treatment for their STI symptoms, and the factors related to seeking treatment from formal health care sources versus informal sources. Results: A greater proportion of males than of females had sought treatment for their STIs (64% vs. 48%). Among those who had sought treatment, 60% of females had gone to formal sources, most commonly a government clinic; 54% of males had sought care from informal sources, most commonly a traditional healer. Females had lower odds than males of having sought STI treatment (odds ratio,0.6). Among both males and females, economic status was positively associated with seeking treatment from a formal source rather than an informal source (2.4-4.2); among females, 22-24-year-olds were more likely than those aged 15-18 to have sough t treatmen t from a formal source (2.5). Conclusion: Programs and policies that aim to increase treatment of STIs among young people in Nigeria need to target males and females differently.
AB - Context: There is little research on STIs among young people in Nigeria. It is important to determine gender differences in health-seeking behaviors among youth with self-reported STI symptoms. Methods: Data from 538 males and females aged 15-24 with at least one STI symptom were drawn from the 2003 and 2005 National HIV/AIDS and Reproductive Health Surveys. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to determine gender differences among those who had sought treatment for their STI symptoms, and the factors related to seeking treatment from formal health care sources versus informal sources. Results: A greater proportion of males than of females had sought treatment for their STIs (64% vs. 48%). Among those who had sought treatment, 60% of females had gone to formal sources, most commonly a government clinic; 54% of males had sought care from informal sources, most commonly a traditional healer. Females had lower odds than males of having sought STI treatment (odds ratio,0.6). Among both males and females, economic status was positively associated with seeking treatment from a formal source rather than an informal source (2.4-4.2); among females, 22-24-year-olds were more likely than those aged 15-18 to have sough t treatmen t from a formal source (2.5). Conclusion: Programs and policies that aim to increase treatment of STIs among young people in Nigeria need to target males and females differently.
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U2 - 10.1363/3607210
DO - 10.1363/3607210
M3 - Article
C2 - 20663743
AN - SCOPUS:77955313344
SN - 1944-0391
VL - 36
SP - 72
EP - 79
JO - International Family Planning Perspectives
JF - International Family Planning Perspectives
IS - 2
ER -