Avaliação do conhecimento sobre IST em população em situação de vulnerabilidade socioeconômica

Abstract

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) constitute a major global public health problem, caused by more than 30 etiological agents such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, and protozoa. Among STIs, eight have a higher global incidence, with four being curable: trichomoniasis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis, and four incurable: hepatitis B, AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome), HPV (Human Papillomavirus), and herpes. The main objective of this study was to analyze the knowledge of individuals in socio-economic vulnerability, assisted at the two public health centers in Goiania-GO. To evaluate the participants knowledge, a structured questionnaire was used, containing questions about sociodemographic characteristics, health conditions, and risk behaviors related to STIs. The instrument used to assess knowledge about the infections was based on the "The Sexually Transmitted Disease Knowledge Questionnaire," translated into Portuguese, adapted by Teixeira and colleagues (2015) and expanded for the objectives of this research. The study included 340 participants in vulnerable situations and revealed that most participants were adults over 50 years old, had an income lower than a minimum wage, and 7.4% (20/340) were illiterate. It was observed that the majority of the interviewees, 78.7% (259/340), did not use a condom in their last sexual intercourse. Regarding knowledge, the average accuracy in relation to viral STI information was 59.7%, and for bacterial STIs, it was 29.1%. It was noted that educational level had an impact on knowledge, as the lower the level of education, the lower the accuracy rates. Therefore, it is essential to promote efforts to increase access to knowledge about these infections in more vulnerable populations, as well as implement public policies focused on health education for these groups.