Prevalence and associated factors of sexually transmitted infections among adolescents and young people attending general outpatient departments in the Teso subregion, Northeast Uganda. A cross-sectional study

Background. Globally, an estimated 374 million new cases of curable sexually transmitted infections (STIs) occur annually, with the highest rates among adolescents and young adults due to a combination of behavioral, biological, and social factors. Our study aimed to determine the prevalence and associated factors of sexually transmitted infections among adolescents and young people attending general outpatient departments (OPDs) in four selected health facilities in the Teso subregion of Northeast Uganda. Methods. A cross-sectional survey was conducted between February and June 2023 in four high volume health facilities in northeastern Uganda. A total of 400 participants were systematically selected and screened for STIs by adolescent counselors and a clinical team. Sociodemographic and risk factor data were collected using structured questionnaires administered by an interviewer, while blood-based samples were collected by trained laboratory technicians’ sterile procedures and equipment for testing for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV) and syphilis. Data entry and analysis were performed using Statistical Package (STATA), version 15.0. Crude and adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were computed to identify associated factors. Results The average age of the 400 participants was 20.3 (SD=2.7) years. The majority of theparticipants were females (89.5%, n=358) and had never married (65.5%, n=262). The overall prevalence of any STI (HIV, HBV or syphilis) was 6.5% (n=26, 95% CI, 4.4–9.4). The most prevalent STI among young people in Teso was hepatitis B, 3.1% (n=12/390, 95% CI, 1.8–5.4). After adjusting for each other, the factor that was significantly associated with STI prevalence among youth was having ever used illicit drugs (OR=3.16; 95% CI, 1.23--8.10). Conclusion STIs, especially hepatitis B, are common among adolescents and young people in the Teso subregion. There is a significant association between STI prevalence among youth who used illicit drugs. Adolescents and young people, especially those with a history of drug addiction, need to be prioritized for STI screening and management at outpatient departments (OPDs).