Health-Seeking And Sexual Behaviors Among Primary Healthcare Patients In Nairobi, Kenya
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Date
2002Author
Fonck, Karoline
Mwai, Charles
Ndinya-Achola, Jackoniah
Bwayo, Job
Temmerman, Marleen
Type
ArticleLanguage
enMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Health-seeking and sexual behaviors are important
elements in the control of sexually transmitted infections
(STIs).
Goal: To examine patterns of health-seeking behavior and
related sexual behavior relevant to improved prevention and
care among patients attending primary healthcare (PHC)
clinics.
Study Design: A questionnaire covering social, demographic,
and healthcare-seeking and sexual behavior information
was administered to 555 patients attending three primary
healthcare clinics in low socioeconomic areas of Nairobi,
Kenya.
Results: Women’s knowledge about health in general and
STIs in particular was poor. A major gender difference in
delay of health seeking for STIs was observed (5 days for men
versus 14 days for women). Significantly more men than
women reported a history of STIs (68% versus 47%; P
0.04). Men reported more extramarital affairs (17% versus
8%; P < 0.001). A high prevalence of gonorrhea (3%) and
chlamydia (6%) was found in this population, with no difference
between the genders. The urine dipstick was ineffective
for the detection of these STIs.
Conclusions: There is a need for better understanding of
behavioral factors, as well as gender and social aspects of
health care. Health education and health promotion in these
areas should be strengthened. Improved screening tests are
needed for the detection of STI.
URI
https://journals.lww.com/stdjournal/Fulltext/2002/02000/Health_Seeking_and_Sexual_Behaviors_Among_Primary.7.aspxhttp://erepository.uonbi.ac.ke/handle/11295/153503
Citation
FONCK, KAROLINE MD, MPH,*†; MWAI, CHARLES BA, MA,*; NDINYA-ACHOLA, JACKONIAH MD, MPH,*; BWAYO, JOB MD, PhD,* AND; TEMMERMAN, MARLEEN MD, PhD† Health-Seeking and Sexual Behaviors Among Primary Healthcare Patients in Nairobi, Kenya, Sexually Transmitted Diseases: February 2002 - Volume 29 - Issue 2 - p 106-111Publisher
University of Nairobi
Rights
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United StatesUsage Rights
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/Collections
- Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) [10378]
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