Determinants for having sex while symptomatic among patients with sexually transmitted infections in Uganda

In order to identify predictors of having sex while symptomatic among patients with sexually transmitted infections (STIs), a cross-sectional study was done at Mulago STD clinic in Kampala, Uganda. Ninety eight patients with STIs who engaged in sex while symptomatic were compared with 40 patients who did not engage in sex while symptomatic on: social-demographic; STI symptoms, health seeking behavior; condom use, sexual behaviour; partner referral; and knowledge and attitudes about STIs. On univariate analysis the risk of having sex while symptomatic was increased by: being female (crude odds ratio (COR) 2.82,95% confidence interval (CI) 1.24-6.47), being married (COR 4.42, CI 1.89-10.43); presenting with other symptoms apart form vaginal / urethral discharge, genital ulcer, or low abdominal pain (COR 2.76, CI1.19-6.41); having a regular partner (COR3.14, 1.49-7.83); not having sex with a casual partner (COR 3.86 CI 1.46-10.29), and finding it difficult to refer sexual partners (COR 2.66, CI 1.04-6.86). The independent predictors of having sex while symptomatic were symptoms > 14 days duration (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 8.01, CI 2.00-16.67), previous medications (AOR 5.85, CI 2.04-16.75) and finding it difficult to refer sexual partners (AOR 4.76, CI 1.45-16.67). To reduce the proportion of STI patients who engage in sex while symptomatic, there is need to strengthen health education messages that stress the importance of abstaining from sex while symptomatic and to provide effective treatment at the first level of contact with these patients.