SUBSTANCE USE AND SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS AMONG ANTI-RETROVIRAL TREATMENT ATTENDEES IN JIMMA UNIVERSITY SPECIALIZED HOSPITAL, JIMMA, ETHIOPIA

BACKGROUND: Substance use increases both the risk of Human Immunodeficiency Virus and other Sexually Transmitted Infections, either directly or indirectly. The association of substance use and Sexually Transmitted Infections has not yet studied in Southwestern Ethiopia. The main aim of this study is to determine the associations between substance use and Sexually Transmitted Infections on clients under follow up in Anti-Retroviral Treatment clinic at Jimma University Specialized Hospital. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on clients under follow up at Anti-Retroviral Treatment clinic from June 10 to July 10, 2011 at Jimma University Specialized Hospital. Data collection was done using a pre-coded and pre-tested questionnaire. Trained Anti-Retroviral Treatment adherence counselors collected the data. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS for Windows version 16.0. Chi-square test was used to measure the levels of significance. P-value < 0.05 was considered as significant. RESULTS: Three hundred thirty eight Anti-Retroviral Treatment attendees participated in the study. Two hundred twenty (65.1%) of the study participants were females and their mean (+/- SD) age was 33.6 +/- 8.04 years while 156 (46.2%) of them lied in the age group of 25-34 years. Clients who reported that they had Sexually Transmitted Infections were 120 (35.5%). Those who consumed alcohol were more likely to have contracted in Sexually Transmitted Infections: AOR (95% CI) = 0.46 (0.26-0.80). CONCLUSION: Prevalence of Sexually Transmitted Infections was comparable among females and males. Substance use, particularly alcohol consumption, found to be a potential risk factor for Sexually Transmitted Infections.