Lack of Knowledge about Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs): Implications for STDs Prevention and Care among Dermatology Patients in an Urban City in Vietnam

• Published in: International journal of environmental research and public health Vol. 16; no. 6; p. 1080
• Main Authors: Nguyen, Sau Huu, Dang, Anh Kim, Vu, Giang Thu, Nguyen, Cuong Tat, Le, Thu Hoai Thi, Truong, Nu Thi, Hoang, Chi Linh, Tran, Tung Thanh, Tran, Tung Hoang, Pham, Hai Quang, Dao, Nam Gia, Tran, Bach Xuan, Latkin, Carl A, Ho, Cyrus S H, Ho, Roger C M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 26-03-2019; MDPI
• Subjects: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome; Adult; Age Factors; AIDS; Cervical cancer; Cities; Dermatology; Developing countries; Disease transmission; Female; Gonorrhea; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Health Promotion; Health risks; HIV; Human immunodeficiency virus; Human papillomavirus; Humans; Infertility; Inflammatory diseases; Information sources; LDCs; Male; Middle Aged; Morbidity; Pelvic inflammatory disease; Reproduction; Risk; Sexual Partners; Sexually transmitted diseases; Sexually Transmitted Diseases - prevention & control; Signs and symptoms; STD; Surveys and Questionnaires; Vietnam; Young Adult; Vietnam; Cities; Vietnam; dermatology; sexually transmitted infections; STIs; STDs
• ISSN: 1660-4601; 1661-7827; 1660-4601
• DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16061080

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are a substantial global burden of diseases, especially in developing countries. Lack of awareness of STDs may lead to a delay in treatment. This study aimed to assess knowledge about STDs and the associated factors among dermatological patients. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 622 patients at Vietnam National Hospital of Dermatology and Venereology (NHD). Structured questionnaires were used to investigate the knowledge about STDs. A multivariate Tobit regression was employed to determine factors associated with knowledge about STDs. The percentage of patients knowing that syphilis was an STD was highest (57.8%), followed by herpes warts (57.7%) and HIV/AIDS (57.4%). By contrast, 26.6% and 17.2% of patients knew that chlamydia and hepatitis C were STDs. The most commonly stated symptom of STDs was purulent genital (53.5%). Nearly two-thirds of participants were aware of the curability of STDs, and 34.7% knew about vaccines for STDs. Living with partners, young age, and acquired knowledge of STDs via the Internet, social networks, and health staff were positively related to having better knowledge about STDs. Based on the results of this study, peer education, informal conversations within clusters, mass community campaigns through the Internet and social networks, and the use of online health care providers should be promoted in order to improve awareness of STDs.