Leveraging Social Media for STI Awareness and Risk Perception among Cameroonian Youth

Background Sexually transmitted Infections (STIs) remain a significant public health burden in sub-Saharan Africa, with annual estimates of 15 million chlamydia, 16 million gonorrhea, and 30 million trichomoniasis cases. Among youth aged 15–24, the prevalence of bacterial STIs ranges from 8% to over 50% in some communities, highlighting a critical need for effective awareness strategies. In Cameroon, social media use has surged, with over 5.45 million active adult users, with WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram dominating youth engagement. This rapid uptake of digital platforms presents a powerful yet underexplored opportunity for sexual health promotion. Despite this growth, research examining how social media shapes STI awareness and risk perception among Cameroonian youth is scarce. This study addresses that gap by assessing how digital platforms can enhance STI awareness, providing evidence to inform culturally relevant, youth-centered digital health interventions in low and middle-income countries. Methods A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among 101 youth aged 18–35 in Cameroon. The structured questionnaire assessed STI awareness, risk perception, social media platform usage, and exposure to STI-related content. Descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression were used to examine associations between social media behaviors and STI awareness. Demographic summaries and mean awareness scores were also compared across platforms. Results While 61.38% of respondents reported high STI awareness, only 36.63% had participated in formal awareness campaigns. WhatsApp and Facebook were the most used platforms. However, 65.34% rarely encountered STI-related content, and 86.13% reported infrequent discussions on STIs. Mean awareness scores were similar across platforms (3.75-4.00), with slightly higher scores on LinkedIn (4.06) and YouTube (5.00). Multiple regression analysis revealed that educational level was the only significant predictor of STI awareness. Gender, age, risk perception, and frequency of social media engagement showed no significant association. Visual content and storytelling were preferred formats yet underutilized on the most commonly used platforms. Conclusion Despite widespread social media use, exposure to STI-related content among Cameroonian youth remains low. Education remains the strongest predictor of awareness. To enhance the impact of sexual health communication, interventions should prioritize content quality, platform alignment, and youth-centered formats.