Sexuality, sexually transmitted infections and contraception among health sciences students in university of Lomé, Togo

BMC Res Notes. 2018 Nov 14;11(1):808. doi: 10.1186/s13104-018-3923-3.

Abstract

Objectives: Evaluate the practice of sexuality, contraception and the risk of sexually transmitted infections among students in the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Lomé, Togo.

Results: Three hundred and sixteen (316) students were interviewed, with a response rate of 43.3%. The average age of students completing the form was 21.4 ± 2.7 years and their sex ratio was 2.2. Of this number of students who completed the form, 51.8% have already had sex. The mean age of first intercourse was 17.9 ± 3.2 years; 70.3% were heterosexual. Regarding the number of sexual partners, 48.5% of students had more than one partner, of whom 15.9% had at least 5 sexual partners. 21.5% of these students had only one sexual intercourse per month. Regarding contraception among students with the card, 67.5% of students used a method of contraception. Among those using contraceptives, it was a 55.3% condom, followed by the Ogino method at 14.1%. Some of our respondents used more than one method of contraception and 28.5% of respondents indicated that their partners used a method of contraception. For STIs, 10.8% of students completing the form were already infected. Gonorrhea was reported in 30.4% of cases, candidiasis in 26.1% of cases.

Keywords: Contraception; FSS-UL students; STI; Sexuality; Togo.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Candidiasis / epidemiology
  • Candidiasis / prevention & control
  • Contraception / methods
  • Contraception / statistics & numerical data*
  • Female
  • Gonorrhea / epidemiology
  • Gonorrhea / prevention & control
  • Heterosexuality / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Sexual Behavior / statistics & numerical data*
  • Sexually Transmitted Diseases / epidemiology
  • Sexually Transmitted Diseases / prevention & control*
  • Students / statistics & numerical data*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Togo / epidemiology
  • Universities*
  • Young Adult