BACKGROUND: Health care-seeking behavior for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) is important in STD/HIV control. GOAL: The goal of this study was to describe the proportion seeking care, patient delay, and choice of provider among men and women with STD-related complaints in Nairobi, Kenya. STUDY DESIGN: A population-based questionnaire was administered in 7 randomly selected clusters (small geographic areas covering approximately 150 households each). RESULTS: Of the 291 respondents reporting complaints, 20% of men versus 35% of women did not seek care, mainly because symptoms were not considered severe, symptoms had disappeared, or as a result of lack of money. Of those who sought care, women waited longer than men (41 vs. 16 days). Most men and women went to the private sector (72% and 57%, respectively), whereas the informal sector was rarely visited (13% and 16%, respectively). Relatively more women visited the government sector (28% vs. 15%). Because women were mostly monogamous, they did not relate their complaints to sexual intercourse, which hampered prompt care-seeking. CONCLUSION: Women should be convinced to seek care promptly, eg, through health education in communities.
BACKGROUND: Health care-seeking behavior for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) is important in STD/HIV control. GOAL: The goal of this study was to describe the proportion seeking care, patient delay, and choice of provider among men and women with STD-related complaints in Nairobi, Kenya. STUDY DESIGN: A population-based questionnaire was administered in 7 randomly selected clusters (small geographic areas covering approximately 150 households each). RESULTS: Of the 291 respondents reporting complaints, 20% of men versus 35% of women did not seek care, mainly because symptoms were not considered severe, symptoms had disappeared, or as a result of lack of money. Of those who sought care, women waited longer than men (41 vs. 16 days). Most men and women went to the private sector (72% and 57%, respectively), whereas the informal sector was rarely visited (13% and 16%, respectively). Relatively more women visited the government sector (28% vs. 15%). Because women were mostly monogamous, they did not relate their complaints to sexual intercourse, which hampered prompt care-seeking. CONCLUSION:Women should be convinced to seek care promptly, eg, through health education in communities.
Authors: Abigail M Hatcher; Janet M Turan; Hannah H Leslie; Lucy W Kanya; Zachary Kwena; Malory O Johnson; Starley B Shade; Elizabeth A Bukusi; Alexandre Doyen; Craig R Cohen Journal: AIDS Behav Date: 2012-07
Authors: Maryam Nasirian; Mohammad Karamouzian; Kianoush Kamali; Amir Reza Nabipour; Ahmad Maghsoodi; Roja Nikaeen; Ali Reza Razzaghi; Ali Mirzazadeh; Mohammad Reza Baneshi; Ali Akbar Haghdoost Journal: Int J Health Policy Manag Date: 2015-08-09
Authors: Hayley J Denison; Lisa Woods; Collette Bromhead; Jane Kennedy; Rebecca Grainger; Annemarie Jutel; Elaine M Dennison Journal: N Z Med J Date: 2018-08-31
Authors: Suneeta Krishnan; Megan S Dunbar; Alexandra M Minnis; Carol A Medlin; Caitlin E Gerdts; Nancy S Padian Journal: Ann N Y Acad Sci Date: 2007-10-22 Impact factor: 6.499