The Prevalence of Sexually Transmitted Infections and Subsequent Association with Exposure to Childhood Violence and Mental Health Outcomes for Adolescents and Young Adults in Zimbabwe
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Abstract:
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) represent a major public health
concern for young people in developing nations, impacting approximately two-thirds
of individuals below the age of 25. This study examined the prevalence and the association
between self-reported STIs, childhood violence exposure, and mental health outcomes
among adolescents and young adults (13-24 years old) in Zimbabwe. Secondary data
from the 2017 Zimbabwe Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (n=8,715) was
utilized. Data analysis was performed using chisquare to determine the prevalence
estimates for bivariate. Seven logistic regression models were used to examine the
significant association between independent variables and outcomes for multivariate.
About 45.5% of adolescents and young adults with self-reported STIs were exposed
to multiple forms of childhood violence, 49.8% reported lifetime suicide risk, and
44.9% reported moderate-to-severe mental distress in the past 30 days. Furthermore,
logistic regression results indicated that adolescents and young adults with self-reported
STI diagnoses were more likely to be exposed to multiple forms of childhood violence,
including physical, emotional, and sexual violence, as well as mental distress in
the past 30 days and lifetime suicide risk compared to those without STIs. Therefore,
this study underscores the importance of implementing comprehensive public health
strategies to protect the wellbeing of adolescents and young adults with STIs. Interventions
should also prioritize raising awareness, destigmatizing STIs, implementing and
strengthening violence prevention policies, and addressing mental health problems
through community mental health treatment programs in Zimbabwe.
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