Knowledge on Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and sexual practices among Nursing Trainees in Yendi Municipality, Northern Region of Ghana

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the knowledge on Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and sexual practices among nursing trainees in Yendi Municipality, Northern Ghana. Methodology: The study was conducted in Northern Ghana, using a cross-sectional study design. The study recruited 265 students using a multistage sampling technique. A self-reported questionnaire was used for the data collection. Data were analyzed using Stata version 16 and p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Findings: Majority (54.0%) of the respondents were males (69.1%), below 25 years with a mean age of 23.5 ±2.4 years. Most students (33.2%) had their first sexual relationship before 20 years of age. Only 20.4% of the students reported having had STIs in the past six months. Nine out of ten (90.9%) respondents have heard of STIs. Among the respondents who had ever heard of STIs, majority (71.7%) heard about STIs in school, followed by the media (41.1%), friends (33.2%), and relatives (29.4%). Majority (75.0%) of students had sufficient knowledge of STIs. The association between knowledge on STIs and program of study (X2=7.6, p=0.023), gender (X2=3.93, p=0.047), and age (X2=22.3, p=0.039) were statistically significant. The odds of sufficient knowledge of STIs for students pursuing Registered Mental Nursing (RMN) is 3 times that of those studying RNAC program (AOR=3.4, 95%CI=1.23 – 9.55, p-value=0.019). Respondents aged ≥25 years were 1.8 times more likely to have sufficient knowledge compared with those below 25 years (AOR=1.8, 95%CI=0.91 – 3.38, p=0.047). Recommendation: There is the need for sensitizations and intensifying education since not all students were armed with the required information on STIs. Stakeholders including, the Ministry of Health, Ghana Health Service, Islamic Medical Association of Ghana (IMAGH), Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) and Tutors of health training institutions ought to re-evaluate the current interventions, and protocols on STIs prevention. There is also the need to regulate media content on health by the National Media Commission and the Ministry of Health of Ghana and its affiliates to ensure the right information on STIs is channelled to listeners by qualified persons.