Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2022 Jan 29;19(1):25.
doi: 10.1186/s12978-022-01340-x.

Information-seeking behavior on sexually transmitted infections and its associated factors among university students in Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

Aynadis Worku Shimie  1 , Kassahun Dessie Gashu  2 , Atsede Mazengia Shiferaw  2 , Shegaw Anagaw Mengiste  3
Affiliations

Information-seeking behavior on sexually transmitted infections and its associated factors among university students in Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

Aynadis Worku Shimie et al. Reprod Health. .

Abstract

Background: Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) are infections commonly spread through sexual contact and transmitted by bacteria, viruses, or parasites. In today's world, STI-related information-seeking behavior is often vital for the advancement of knowledge, behavioral changes, health decisions, and the sharing of sexual health information among youths. However, paucity of evidence on information-seeking behavior among students in higher education institutions. This study aimed to assess STI-related information-seeking behavior and its associated factors among students at the University of Gondar.

Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted among students at the University of Gondar from January 15 to February 15, 2021. A total of 832 participants were selected using a stratified two-stage sampling method. A structured self-administered questionnaire was used to collect the required data. STI information-seeking behavior questionnaire was adapted from health information national survey tool (HINTS). Descriptive statistics, bi-variable, and multivariable logistic regression analyses were applied using SPSS version 26.

Result: The proportion of STI related information-seeking among university students was 462 (55.5%) with 95% CI (52.3, 58.9). About 263 (56.9%) of students preferred internet as a primary source for STI related information. Year of study being 4th (AOR = 4.77, 95% CI = 2.75, 8.29) and 5th year (AOR = 5.45, 95% CI = 2.48, 12.01), field of study being health (AOR = 2.19, 95% CI = 1.16, 4.11), sexual experiences (AOR = 2.33, 95% CI = 1.56, 3.48), ever had STI symptoms (AOR = 4.19, 95% CI = 2.14, 8.18), perceived susceptibility (AOR = 5.05, 95% CI = 3.29, 7.75), and perceived severity (AOR = 2.16,95% CI = 1.45, 3.22) were significant factors for good STI information-seeking.

Conclusion: the proportion of STI information-seeking among university students was low. Students' STI information-seeking behavior could be improved by increasing digital literacy and enhancing computer and internet access across the campus.

Keywords: Ethiopia; STIs; STIs Information seeking behavior; Sexual health information; University students.

Plain language summary

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) are infections commonly spread through sexual contact and transmitted by bacteria, viruses, or parasites and are the most common cause of illness among university students. Information-seeking behavior related to STIs is a means by which individuals sought information related to sexual health, disease, health risk, and health promotion. Communicating STIs and sexual risk behaviors during youth, particularly among university students, is effective in reducing STI-related problems. Lack of access to health information, lack of communication, and insufficient information about STIs are key issues that have contributed to the high prevalence of STIs. In Ethiopia, information-seeking behavior related to STIs and information use culture for improving the sexual health of individuals and the communities is limited. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess STI information-seeking behavior and its associated factors among students at the University of Gondar.More than half of the students sought STI-related information seeking in the past year. From those STI-related information seekers, the majority of students preferred the internet as a primary source for STI-related information. Field of study, year of study, internet access, digital literacy, sexual experiences, had STI symptoms, Perceived susceptibility, and perceived severity of STI were significant factors associated with STI information-seeking. Students' STI information-seeking behavior could be improved by increasing digital literacy and enhancing computer and internet access.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

There are no competing interests between us.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
STI information seeking by students’ field of study in University of Gondar, 2021
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Frequency of STI information seeking by students in the university of Gondar 2021 (n = 462)
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Preferred STI information source of students in the University of Gondar, 2021 (n = 462)
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Types of STI-specific information sought by students in the University of Gondar (n = 462)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. World Health Organization . Prevalence and incidence of selected sexually transmitted infections: Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, syphilis, and Trichomonas vaginalis: Methods and results used by WHO to generate 2005 estimates. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2011. pp. 1–38.
    1. World Health Organization . Report on global sexually transmitted infection surveillance. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2018.
    1. Yilma TM, Reidpath D, Orimaye SO. Health Information seeking and its associated factors among university students: a case in a middle-income setting. InPacific Asia Conference on Information Systems (PACIS). 2017;
    1. Kenyon C, Buyze J, Colebunders R. Classification of incidence and prevalence of certain sexually transmitted infections by world regions. Int J Infect Dis. 2014;18(1):73–80. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2013.09.014. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Onawe C OF. Health Information Seeking Behaviour of University Students in Nigeria. Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal). 2019.