Abstract
BACKGROUND: In addition to medical issues, patients with sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can experience a range of psychological issues. Having information and awareness of STIs may enable people to take preventative action. Thus, the current study set out to create and assess a contemporary, comprehensive STI awareness and knowledge scale. Reviewing the literature, holding focus groups with participants, gathering data from the assessment and review of STI experts, completing item and factor analyses, evaluating test-retest and internal consistency reliability, and obtaining proof of the measure's predictive validity were all done. In contemporary society, there are many stigmas linked to sexual behavior and STIs. The study sought to clarify the behavioral patterns of STI patients on affect, satisfaction with life, emotional approach coping, perceived stress, and depression in relation to awareness and knowledge related to STI in the Indian cultural context, particularly in the Eastern zone of the Indian Union, in order to address the psychological issues.
AIM: This study was carried out to Awareness and knowledge about sexually transmitted infections
MATERIAL AND METHOD: The Department of Dermatology carried out this cross-sectional observational study. cases of STIs with signed consent and diagnoses made through lab and clinical means, as well as meeting the inclusive and exclusive requirements. Variables such as gender, age, marital status, level of education, place of residence (rural or urban), occupation, religion, classification, and family structure are meticulously documented. Independent variables include mindful attention awareness, STI awareness, and knowledge. Dependent variables include depression, affect, life satisfaction, emotional coping strategies, and perception of stress.
RESULTS: For the purposes of this study, 300 cases in total were initially registered. Lastly, the trial comprised 250 patients. A total of 50 cases, comprising 20 cases of genital molluscum contagiosum and 30 cases of mixed infections, were eliminated from the study due to the small sample size, which makes parametric inferential analysis not useful. For this study patients were divided into four categories: syphilis (N = 40), genital herpes (N = 80), genital warts (N = 75), and genital discharge (N = 55). The demographicprofiles of the whole STI patients (N = 250) are shown in Table - 1. The majority of patients were males (60.0%) and married (71.2%). The commonest age group was 26-40 years followed by 15-25 years. With respect to educational qualifications, most of the patients were graduates and above (60.0%).
CONCLUSION: It was discovered that the self-developed awareness/knowledge scale was trustworthy. Most of the patients were men, with a graduate degree or above. Many patients had sufficient awareness or information regarding sexually transmitted infections. Other than knowledge, life happiness, and somatic depression, there was no discernible difference between the sexes on any of the study's factors. Compared to syphilis and genital discharge patients, patients with genital herpes and genital warts reported more negative effects, perceived stress, and depression. Patients with syphilis and vaginal discharge knew more than those with genital warts and herpes, but not as much.
KEYWORDS: Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Genital Discharge and Genital Herpes