Health Seeking Behaviour for Key Sexually Transmitted Infections among the Female Sex Workers in Eldoret Municipality, Uasin-Gishu County, Kenya
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Date
2018-05
Authors
Ngure, Miriam Wanjiru
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are being increasingly recognized as serious
global health problem with impact on individual women and men, their families and
communities. They can have severe consequences, including infertility, ectopic
pregnancy, chronic pelvic pain, miscarriage, and increased risk of HIV transmission.
STIs are the main preventable cause of infertility, particularly in women. The general
objective of the study was to establish the determinants of health seeking behaviour
among the female sex workers for key STIs in Eldoret Municipality in Uasin Gishu
county, Kenya. The specific objectives were to examine the female sex workers’
knowledge of key STIs, to determine the healthcare seeking behaviour on key STIs
among the female sex workers and to evaluate the determinants influencing health
seeking behaviour for key STIs among the female sex workers. The sample size was
139 female sex workers who were selected through snowballing sampling technique.
Data was collected using questionnaires, key informant interview schedule guide and
Focused Group Discussions guide(FDGs). Data was analyzed using Statistical
Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22. Descriptive statistics was used to
describe the variables. Hypothesis testing was done using chi-square and significance
established at p≤ 0.05. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to determine
independent predictors of health seeking behaviour for key sexually transmitted
infections. The study findings indicated that majority (66.2%) of FSWs had high
knowledge level on STIs, majority (80.7%) of the FSWs had ever experienced STI
symptoms though only (52.1%) of them sought for treatment. The main determinants
for health seeking behaviour for STIs were; perceived health care providers attitude
and behaviour (χ2=66.617, df=1, P=<0.001), distance to the health facility (χ2=28.116,
df=1, P=<0.001), treatment cost (χ2=41.707, df=1, P=<0.001), average waiting time
(χ2=14.938, df=1, P=<0.001), level of education (χ2=6.802, df=2, P=0.033), monthly
income (χ2=9.183, df=3, P=0.027), number of years in sex work
(χ2=8.861,df=3,p=0.031) and sex debut(χ2=7.857,df=2,p=0.020)according to chisquare
test of significance. The main predictors of health seeking behaviour for key
STI were; perceived health care providers attitude and behaviour (OR=63.278:
(18.973-211.036) P=<0.001), distance to the health facility (OR=10.993: (4.186-
28.869), P=<0.001), treatment cost (OR=18.462: (6.931-49.174), P=<0.001), average
waiting time (OR=5.111: (2.165-12.067, P=<0.001), FSWs who had received a HIV
test (OR=3.196; (1.389-7.352); p=0.001), educational level (OR=2.636; (1.060-
6.560); p=0.037) and monthly income (OR=2.880; (1.052-7.882); p=0.030). The study
concluded that there were several determinants to accessing healthcare services for
STIs and they were related to both individual and structural factors. Thus, there is need
for NASCOP to continuously sensitize healthcare workers on healthcare service
provision to FSWS indiscriminately and in a friendly manner in order to reduce on the
barriers of accessing STI services among the FSWs.
Description
A Research Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for the Award of the Degree of Master of Public Health in the School of Public Health of Kenyatta University