Prevalence and Associated Factors of Self-Reported Sexually Transmitted Diseases among College Students in Motta Town, Northwest Ethiopia

Background aim: Throughout the world, majority of individuals who are affected by sexually transmitted disease (STIs) are youths and about one in every twenty adolescents will develop STIs other than Human Immune Deficiency Virus (HIV) each year. Thus, the aim of the study was to assess the prevalence and associated factors of self-reported STIs among college students. Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted in Motta town, Northwest Ethiopia in January 2020. Using multistage stratified sampling technique 616 samples were randomly selected from randomly selected 45 sections. Data was collected using semi-open ended and researcher-made self-administered questionnaire from randomly selected students. In multivariable logistic regression, P-value less than 0.05 and Odds ratios at 95% confidence intervals was used to determine presence of association between dependent and independent variables by using STATA version 14.1 windows program. Results: Overall, a total of 571 students participated in the study and made the response rate 93%. Of respondents, 405(71%) initiated sexual intercourse and 82(14.4%) students reported at least one syndrome. Age 24 years [AOR=8.05;95%CI:2.80-23.12] and 20-24years [AOR=2.7;95%CI:1.18-6.17], being 3rd [AOR=5.23;95%CI:2.23-12.28] and 2nd year student [AOR=2.45;95%CI:1.20-5.01], having multiple sexual partners [AOR=9.38;95%CI:4.46-19.73], having poor knowledge [AOR=2.93;95%CI:1.49-5.77] and inconsistent condom use [AOR=3.10;95%CI:1.40-6.90] were factors associated with sexually transmitted diseases. Conclusion: The prevalence of self-reported sexually transmitted infections among college students in Motta town was high. Thus, building up students’ knowledge and encourage them to abstain from having multiple sexual partners and using condom consistently are important issues.