Authors : D. Oladele , A. Adeiga , F. Ricketts and H. Goodluck
Abstract: Young women in Sub-Saharan Africa are vulnerable to HIV infection because of their immature reproductive system, difficulty of negotiating condom use and the presence of untreated Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) as well as the �culture of silence� on open discussion of reproductive health issues with their parent. The study assesses women account of STI symptoms received from their adolescent girls and their perception of the risk of their daughter contacting HIV infection through heterosexual contact. Interviewer administered questionnaires were used to gather information from 230 women who have adolescent girls selected through stratified random sampling method. Average age of respondent is 42 years and 75.1% are in stable marital relationship while 63% have at least secondary school education. There was low report of STI symptoms from adolescent girls to their mothers (15% for Vaginal discharge, 23.5% for vaginal itching and 4.3% for genital ulcer) and elderly as well as widowed women were found to likely receive the complaint of STI symptoms. Also, 48% of respondents believe that heterosexual contact is the major route of HIV transmission, 90.7% also believe that healthy looking individual could transmit HIV and 53.6% agree that condom could protect their daughters from HIV infection. However, 89.3% believe that abstinence is the best method of protecting their girls from STI and HIV infection. It follows that parent-child communication about STI and condom use need to be reinforced while not undermining mother�s traditional belief of abstinence till marriage.
D. Oladele , A. Adeiga , F. Ricketts and H. Goodluck , 2008. Adolescent Girls Self Reported STI Symptoms and Mothers Perception of Their HIV Risk in an Urban Marketing Lagos, Nigeria. Research Journal of Medical Sciences, 2: 220-223.