Survey on knowledge of sexually transmitted infections and gonorrhea: Do we know enough?

• Autores: Perlbach, Agostina; Romano, Mariana; Dinamarca, Sofía; Buonfigli, Julio; Quintero, Cristián Andrés
• Año de publicación: 2022
• Idioma: inglés
• Tipo de recurso: artículo
• Materia: Gonorrhea; STIs; Neisseria gonorrhoeae; knowledge; survey
• Institución: Universidad Maza

Fil: Perlbach, Agostina. Universidad Juan Agustín Maza; Argentina
Fil: Romano, Mariana. Universidad Juan Agustín Maza; Argentina
Fil: Dinamarca, Sofía. Universidad Juan Agustín Maza; Argentina
Fil: Dinamarca, Sofía. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas Mendoza. Centro Científico Tecnológico. Instituto de Histología y Embriología; Argentina
Fil: Buonfigli, Julio. Ciudad de Mendoza. Poliedra; Argentina
Fil: Quintero, Cristián Andrés. Universidad Juan Agustín Maza; Argentina
Fil: Quintero, Cristián Andrés. Universidad de Mendoza. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas; Argentina
Background: Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) constitute an important group of infections with serious implications for public health. According to WHO, 1 million new contagions are produced daily, with more than 370 million new cases yearly. STIs can be originated from viruses, bacteria, fungi, or parasites. Regardless of their nature, they can be either cured or treated and controlled, but more importantly, they are preventable. Aims: The best tool to fight against STIs is prevention, which has a strong dependence on knowledge. This work aimed to assess the level of knowledge of society about STIs and gonorrhea. Methods: We conducted an online survey, covering a wide range of ages and levels of education, inquiring about areas such as origin, ways of contagion, prevention, associated diseases, and treatment of STIs and gonorrhea. We performed a statistical analysis of the answers. Results and Discussion: it was found that the general level of knowledge about STIs was independent of the age and level of education of the respondents. The respondent has shown better familiarity with prevention and contagion than with origin, diseases, and treatment. When the question was focused on gonorrhea, we found a lack in the cognizance of several points. Conclusions: Based on our findings, we conclude it is necessary to improve sexual education programs, starting at early ages but directed to all populations, particularly about gonorrhea.