Candidiasis knowledge, Self-Reported infection history, preventive practices, and associated factors among female tertiary students in Ghana

Candidiasis, a prevalent fungal infection caused by Candida species, poses significant health challenges, particularly for females who are more vulnerable, in environments like tertiary institutions where students are exposed to various risk factors. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, infection history, and prevention practices related to candidiasis among female tertiary students in Ghana. A cross-sectional study involving 788 female tertiary students from Kumasi Metropolis and Hohoe Municipality, Ghana, was conducted using multi-stage sampling. Data on socio-demographics, knowledge of candidiasis, infection history, and preventive practices were collected through structured questionnaires and analysed with Stata 17.0. Bivariate and Binary logistic regression analyses were employed to identify factors linked to knowledge and history of candidiasis. Of the 788 students, 52.2% demonstrated a high level of knowledge about candidiasis, while 42.4% reported poor preventive practices. Additionally, 51.4% indicated a history of candidiasis, with 31.1% experiencing recurrent infections. A significant association was found between knowledge level and prevention practices (p < 0.001). Multivariable logistic regression shows that students in Kumasi were 10 times more likely to have high knowledge of candidiasis compared to those in Hohoe (AOR: 10.2, 95% CI: 6.87–15.4, p < 0.001). Binary logistic regression shows that students in Kumasi had 4.99 times higher odds of having a history of candidiasis compared to those in Hohoe (AOR: 4.99, 95% CI: 3.42–7.28, p < 0.001). Those with unemployed parents had 49.6% lower odds of past infection compared to those whose parents were artisans (AOR: 0.504, 95% CI: 0.26–0.95, p = 0.037). This study highlights a significant gap in the knowledge and prevention practices related to candidiasis among female tertiary students in Ghana. Despite awareness levels, over half of the participants had inadequate knowledge of preventive measures, leading to high rates of recurrent infections. Ghana Health Service and Ministry of Education should focus on enhancing knowledge, promoting good hygiene practices, and improving access to healthcare services to reduce the burden of candidiasis in this population.