DOI: 10.36347/sasjm.2023.v09i06.030

Pages: 709-712

Introduction: STIs have a profound impact on sexual and reproductive health worldwide. The risks of transmission are linked to age and sexual behaviour. The aim of this study was to assess young adults' knowledge of STIs/AIDS in order to prevent the risks. Materials and Method: We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional qualitative study of 170 randomly selected people in the health area of the Korofina-Sud and Salembougou community health centre (ASACOKOSSA). Results: The most common STIs were HIV (98.8%), urinary tract infections (92.9%), gonorrhoea (88.2%), genital mycoses (87.7%), syphilis (77.6%) and papillomavirus (74.7%). Although condoms, fidelity and abstinence were known as means of protection in 58.8%, 32.9% and 13.5% respectively, erroneous knowledge existed and risky behaviour was adopted. Conclusion: The family was far from being a place for sex education for young single people. Awareness-raising initiatives seemed to be needed to help parents talk to their unmarried young adults about sexuality, so that they could pass on the right information.