Abstract

The aim of this study is to assess the knowledge and misconception about sexual transmitted infections (STIs), mode of transmission, prevention methods and use of condom among young women in Northern Ethiopia. A facility-based cross-sectional study was employed among 326 young women aged 15 to 24 years from 1 to 30 May, 2013. A multistage sampling technique was used to select young women attending outpatient facility. A pre-tested interviewer guided structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Data was entered, cleaned and analyzed using SPSS version 20.0. Descriptive statistics like frequency, percent, table and graphs were used to present the findings. From the total of 326 young women included in this study, 305 women participated with a response rate of 93.6%. One hundred and fourteen (40.4%) of the young women had poor knowledge about STIs mode of transmission and prevention methods. Regarding prevention of STIs, 119 (39%) youths were not aware of at least one method of STI prevention methods such as consistent condom use, being faithful and abstaining. About 28 (9.9%) youths had misconceptions regarding prevention methods of STIs and 149 (48.9%) young women had ever used condom. Seventy three percent of the youths knew at least one place where they can get condom. This study indicated that there is poor knowledge and high misconception about sexual transmitted infections, mode of transmissions and prevention methods among young women and many don’t use condom during sexual contact. Therefore, it is better to designed strategies to create awareness of younger women in school and those out of school about STIs. In addition, establishing reproductive health and HIV/AIDS club is an important intervention at school.

Key words: Knowledge, misconception, condom use, young women, Northern Ethiopia.