PREVALENCE OF SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN ATTENDING ANTENATAL CARE AT WOLKITE UNIVERSITY SPECIALIZED TEACHING HOSPITAL, GURAGE ZONE, SNNPR, ETHIOPIA.

Abstract

Background: Sexually transmitted infections are major public health problem especially in developing countries. They are highly prevalent among pregnant women and causes significant maternal and perinatal morbidity. Sexually transmitted infections have been shown to facilitate transmission of Human Immune Deficiency Virus. The control of sexually transmitted infections, especially in pregnancy, is thus a priority, particularly in low resource settings where they are prevalent.Objective: To determine the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and associated factors among pregnant women who has antenatal care follow up at Wolkite UniversitySpecialized Teaching Hospital from August 15 -29, 2022 G.C.Methods: A hospital based cross sectional study design was conducted to assess the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections among 251 pregnant mothers at Wolkite University Specialized Teaching Hospital antenatal care clinic from All pregnant womens of age group 15-49 who had antenatal care follow up at Wolkite University Specialized Teaching Hospital antenatal care clinic during the study time were the study population. Systematic random sampling technique was used for participant selection. Data was collected by face-to-face interview. Sexually transmitted infections were identified by symptoms, gynecological viiiexamination and laboratory analysis. The collected data was cleared, checked, entered into, preprocessed and analyzed using SPSS version 21 of the computer software. Bi-variable and multivariable logistic regressions were used to identify independent variables related to the outcome of interest and results was summarized using texts, graphs and tables. Results: A total of 251 pregnant women were involved in this study. From these (29) 11.55 % of pregnant women were having one or more sexually transmitted infections. From our studies, respondents with previous sexually transmitted infections has 2 times risk to develop sexually transmitted infections (adjusted odd ratio 2.07,, CI:1.40-12.7);, respondents with 2 or more partners have 4 times higher risk to develop sexually transmitted infections than respondents with single partners (adjusted odd ratio 3.88 , 95% CI: 2..48-4.50)Conclusion and recommendation: the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections is 11.55 % among pregnant women and this infections may increases the risk of Human Immune Deficiency Virus transmissions and is associated with adverse pregnancy outcome; there is a need for increased provision of health information concerning sexually transmitted infections to the community, educating women, screening and treatment of sexually transmitted infections s in Ethiopia