The Prevalence of Symptomatic Sexually Transmitted Diseases among Refugees in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Background: Though refugees are prone to sexually transmitted diseases, little attention has been given to prevention programs in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess the prevalence and associated factors of symptomatic sexually transmitted diseases among refugees in Addis Ababa.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 379 refugees in Addis Ababa, from November to December 2015. The systematic random sampling technique was used to select study participants. Data were collected using a pretested, structured questionnaire, entered into Epi-info version 7, and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Bi-variable and Multivariable logistic regression models were employed to see the presence and strength of associations between the dependent and independent variables by computing odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals and p-value< 0.05.

Results: The overall prevalence of symptomatic sexually transmitted diseases was 34.6% (95%CI: 29.8%, 39.6%). Factors, like2-5 years stay in Eth., 2 – 5 (AOR=2.31, 95% CI; 1.22, 4.38), sexual violence (AOR=1.72: 95%CI; 1.01, 2.93),  divorce (AOR=0.39: 95%CI; 0.16, 0.93), chewing Khat before sex( AOR=2.04: 95% CI; 1.16, 3.59),and  not using condoms during sex (AOR=2.49, 95%CI: 1.47, 4.21) were significantly associated with the prevalence of symptomatic sexually transmitted diseases.

Conclusion: The prevalence of symptomatic sexually transmitted diseases among refugees was found to be high. Factors like duration of stay, sexual violence, divorce, khat chewing and not using condoms during sex were significantly associated with the disease. Therefore, special attention should be given to refuges with 2-5 years of stay in Ethiopia, sexual violence, widowed refugees, history of khat chewing before sex, not using condoms during sex to reduce the prevalence of SSTD in refugees.