The Effect of Educational Intervention on Knowledge and Attitudes toward Sexually Transmitted Infections on a Sample of Egyptian Women at Primary Care Level

Tarek Tawfik Amin; Yasmine Samir Galal; Dina Samy Shaheen; Marwa Rshad Salem

doi:10.3889/oamjms.2021.5638

Authors

Tarek Tawfik Amin Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt
Yasmine Samir Galal Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt
Dina Samy Shaheen Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt
Marwa Rshad Salem Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2021.5638

Keywords:

Sexually transmitted infection, Knowledge, Attitudes, Reproductive age, Egypt

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The current study was conducted to assess the effect of an educational intervention on knowledge status and attitudes toward sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in a sample of women in reproductive age.

METHODS: One group quasi-experimental study was conducted at one primary health care center in Egypt; included 200 women selected by systematic sampling method. Health education intervention was designed and implemented to fill the knowledge gap revealed in pre-test in relation to prevention, early detection and STIs treatment.

RESULTS: The results revealed that knowledge about types, modes of transmission and causative agents of STIs, symptoms and complications of STIs, and prevention and treatment increased in post-test (p = 0.001), with significant increase of total knowledge score in post-test (p = 0.001). The attitudes toward STIs were also improved at post-test compared to pre-test.

CONCLUSION: The study reflected the need for implementing educational programs to improve STIs’ knowledge and increasing women’s readiness for STIs screening.

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