Abstract

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) pose a worldwide health problem. To improve the efforts of prevention of STIs it is important to gain insight into the awareness of STIs among people in the society.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the cognizance of STIs among low-income men in western Kenya.
METHOD
Data was collected from eight focus groups consisted of 64 men between 15 and 54 years of age. The interviews were audio taped and content analysis was used for the analysis.
FINDINGS
Three categories were derived: Consciousness of STIs, Risk of and prevention of STIs, and Marital relationship and STIs. The results indicate that men had some limited consciousness of STIs but that there were misunderstandings. The treatments the men mentioned were hospital treatment help, from traditional herbalists and self-administration. Condoms were regarded as an effective prevention method, but there were obstacles to using them as well as to talking about STIs within marriage.
CONCLUSION
The study stresses the need to promote cognizance of STIs, including gender aspects, and to reduce the gap between knowing and practising.

Links

Publisher Full Text

Authors

Wambui T, Ek AC, Alehagen S

Institution

Department of Nursing, School of Medicine, Moi University, Kenya. teresaw006@yahoo.com

Source

Sexual & reproductive healthcare : official journal of the Swedish Association of Midwives 2:4 2011 Nov pg 169-73

MeSH

Adolescent
Adult
Communication
Comprehension
Condoms
Focus Groups
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Hospitals
Humans
Kenya
Male
Marriage
Medicine, Traditional
Middle Aged
Phytotherapy
Poverty
Self Care
Sexual Behavior
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Tape Recording
Young Adult

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Language

eng

PubMed ID

22055986