Knowledge of Sexually Transmitted Infections amongst Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinics in West Coast Region of The Gambia

Abstract

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) during pregnancy remain a public health concern especially in developing countries including The Gambia. This study assessed the knowledge of STIs and its associated factors amongst pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in West Coast region of The Gambia. A descriptive cross-sectional study design was used. Two hundred and eighty pregnant women attending antenatal care in Brikama District Hospital, Brikama, and Bandung Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Bandung, who gave their consent, participated in this study. The instrument for data collection was an interviewer administered questionnaire. Data was analyzed using IBM SPSS for Windows, version 21.0. Level of significance was set at p < 0.05. All the respondents were aware of HIV/AIDS and their main source of information was from health care providers. However, most of them 263 (93.9%) had poor knowledge of STIs. Level of education (p < 0.001) and employment status (p = 0.001) had significant association with level of knowledge of STIs. This study also identified low level of education [AOR: 0.04 (95% CI: 0.01 – 0.35)], and unemployment [AOR:21.97 (95% CI: 1.57 – 306.65)] as statistically significant predictors of low level of knowledge of STIs amongst the respondents. There is need for mass media campaigns and other public health measures aimed at increasing knowledge of STIs as this will herald effective intervention strategies towards the prevention of STIs. (Afr J Reprod Health 2019; 23[3]: 49-56).