PREVALENCE OF SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES, KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICES AMONG SELECTED RESIDENTS OF KARU, NASARAWA STATE, NIGERIA

Introduction: Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) also referred to as sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are of significant medical importance. The diseases are transmitted from one infected individual to another during sexual intimacy. Over 30 pathogens have been identified as the etiologic agents. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was carried out using a simple random sampling method in administering pre-tested questionnaires. Clinical assessments and laboratory examinations (PCR) were also carried out using standard techniques. Results were expressed in percentages, and chi-square (p < 0.05) was used to test for the significance of differences. Results: The results of this study showed that out of the 226 participants initially registered, 138 representing 61.06% had previously been infected with sexually transmitted diseases. A vast majority (95.60%) of the participants were aware of the existence of the diseases; 79.60% had a single sexual partner, while 84.10% agreed to have used condoms. Trichomonas vaginalis with a prevalence of 28.99% was the most common of the STDs and Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) was the least common with a prevalence rate of 1.45%. The result indicated that the prevalence of the disease was more associated with age and sexual practices than the educational qualifications of participants. Conclusion: While most of the participants in the present study are aware of the existence of sexually transmitted diseases and their modes of transmission, the findings of this study indicated that STDs remain highly prevalent in Karu, Nasarawa State, Nigeria. These findings highlight the need for targeted sexual health education and behavioral interventions to reduce STD transmission.