{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,15]],"date-time":"2026-09-15T13:48:05Z","timestamp":1789480085256,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":53,"publisher":"BMJ","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,28]],"date-time":"2025-01-28T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1738022400000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":27,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["bmj.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["BMJ Open"],"accepted":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,14]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2025,1]]},"abstract":"\n Background<\/jats:title>\n Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a significant global health challenge, demanding attention and intervention. Despite many STIs being manageable, their asymptomatic nature poses a formidable threat to both mental and physical well-being. This silent impact can lead to substantial morbidity and mortality, which is particularly pronounced in East Africa.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Objective<\/jats:title>\n To investigate the prevalence and factors associated with self-reported STIs among sexually active men in East Africa.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Design<\/jats:title>\n Cross-sectional study design.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Setting<\/jats:title>\n 10 East African countries.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Participants<\/jats:title>\n 66\u2009833 sexually active men.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Primary outcome measure<\/jats:title>\n Self-reported STI in the 12 months preceding the survey. A multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression model was fitted to identify factors associated with self-reported STIs. An adjusted OR with the corresponding 95% CI was used to estimate the strength of the association, and statistical significance was set at a p value <0.05.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Results<\/jats:title>\n The pooled prevalence of self-reported STIs among sexually active men in East Africa was 5.22% (95% CI: 5.34, 5.69). Being married, having multiple sexual partners excluding a spouse and being informed about STIs were significantly associated with higher odds of self-reported STIs. However, being aged 44 years and above, having a higher education level, starting sex after the age of 20, being circumcised and being a rural resident were associated with lower odds of self-reported STIs.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n The prevalence of self-reported STIs was higher than the findings from most previous studies. It is essential to educate men about STIs and increase awareness of the risks associated with having multiple sexual partners. Implementing targeted public health initiatives for men with lower education levels, as well as devising strategies to address factors that elevate the risk of STI contraction, is also crucial.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjopen-2024-085628","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,29]],"date-time":"2025-01-29T00:55:22Z","timestamp":1738112122000},"page":"e085628","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/crossmarkpolicy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":7,"title":["Self-reported sexually transmitted infections and associated factors among sexually active men in East Africa: a multilevel analysis of recent demographic and health surveys"],"prefix":"10.1136","volume":"15","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1332-670X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Yohannes Mekuria","family":"Negussie","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Medicine, Adama General Hospital and Medical College, Adama, Ethiopia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Bezawit Melak","family":"Fente","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of General Midwifery, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Zufan Alamrie","family":"Asmare","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Ophthalmology, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Angwach Abrham","family":"Asnake","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Wolaita Sodo University, Sodo, Ethiopia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Meklit Melaku","family":"Bezie","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Public Health Officer, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Hiwot Atlaye","family":"Asebe","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Public Health, Collage of Medicine and Health Sciences, Samara University, Samara, Ethiopia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9278-6826","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Beminate Lemma","family":"Seifu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Public Health, Collage of Medicine and Health Sciences, Samara University, Samara, Ethiopia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"239","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,28]]},"reference":[{"key":"2025101812383383000_15.1.e085628.1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0143304","article-title":"Global Estimates of the Prevalence and Incidence of Four Curable Sexually Transmitted Infections in 2012 Based on Systematic Review and Global Reporting","volume":"10","author":"Newman","year":"2015","journal-title":"PLoS One"},{"key":"2025101812383383000_15.1.e085628.2","unstructured":"Garcia MR , Leslie SW , Wray AA . Sexually transmitted infections. Treasure Island: StatPearls,"},{"key":"2025101812383383000_15.1.e085628.3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"13","DOI":"10.1007\/s10508-019-01584-y","article-title":"Increasing Sexually Transmitted Infections in the U.S.: A Call for Action for Research, Clinical, and Public Health Practice","volume":"49","author":"Scott-Sheldon","year":"2020","journal-title":"Arch Sex Behav"},{"key":"2025101812383383000_15.1.e085628.4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Chesson HW , Mayaud P , Aral SO , et al . Sexually transmitted infections: impact and cost-effectiveness of prevention. 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Global health sector strategy on sexually transmitted infections 2016-2021: toward ending STIs. 2016."},{"key":"2025101812383383000_15.1.e085628.9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1097\/MD.0000000000038199","article-title":"Global perspectives on the burden of sexually transmitted diseases: A narrative review","volume":"103","author":"Elendu","year":"2024","journal-title":"Medicine (Baltimore)"},{"key":"2025101812383383000_15.1.e085628.10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"418","DOI":"10.1177\/09564624241226487","article-title":"Prevalence and risk factors of sexually transmitted infections in the setting of a generalized HIV epidemic-a population-based study, western Kenya","volume":"35","author":"Awuoche","year":"2024","journal-title":"Int J STD AIDS"},{"key":"2025101812383383000_15.1.e085628.11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1186\/s12879-022-07685-9","article-title":"Epidemiology of sexually transmitted infections: trends among patients screened for sexually transmitted infections in rwandan health facilities 2014-2020","volume":"22","author":"Makuza","year":"2022","journal-title":"BMC Infect Dis"},{"key":"2025101812383383000_15.1.e085628.12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"48","DOI":"10.1016\/j.annepidem.2023.05.001","article-title":"High prevalence of self-reported sexually transmitted infections among older adults in Tanzania: results from a list experiment in a population-representative survey","volume":"84","author":"Kim","year":"2023","journal-title":"Ann Epidemiol"},{"key":"2025101812383383000_15.1.e085628.13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"125","DOI":"10.4103\/ijstd.IJSTD_77_19","article-title":"Psychological health and well-being in patients with sexually transmitted infections: A prospective cross-sectional study","volume":"42","author":"Singh","year":"2021","journal-title":"Indian J Sex Transm Dis AIDS"},{"key":"2025101812383383000_15.1.e085628.14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"743","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(15)60692-4","article-title":"Global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability for 301 acute and chronic diseases and injuries in 188 countries, 1990\u20132013: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013","volume":"386","author":"Vos","year":"2015","journal-title":"The Lancet"},{"key":"2025101812383383000_15.1.e085628.15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pmed.1002511","article-title":"Prevalence of sexually transmitted infections and bacterial vaginosis among women in sub-Saharan Africa: An individual participant data meta-analysis of 18 HIV prevention studies","volume":"15","author":"Torrone","year":"2018","journal-title":"PLoS Med"},{"key":"2025101812383383000_15.1.e085628.16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0232793","article-title":"Factors associated with sexually transmitted infections among sexually active men in Ethiopia. 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Global strategy for the prevention and control of sexually transmitted infections: 2006-2015: breaking the chain of transmission. 2007."},{"key":"2025101812383383000_15.1.e085628.41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1186\/s12879-018-3138-1","article-title":"Prevalence of self-reported symptoms of sexually transmitted infections, knowledge and sexual behaviour among youth in semi-rural Tanzania in the period of adolescent friendly health services strategy implementation","volume":"18","author":"Abdul","year":"2018","journal-title":"BMC Infect Dis"},{"key":"2025101812383383000_15.1.e085628.42","first-page":"94","article-title":"Sexually transmitted infections: prevalence, knowledge and treatment practices among female sex workers in a cosmopolitan city in Nigeria","volume":"17","author":"Sekoni","year":"2013","journal-title":"Afr J Reprod Health"},{"key":"2025101812383383000_15.1.e085628.43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.4103\/ijstd.ijstd_20_21","article-title":"Male circumcision and Sexually transmitted Infections - An update","volume":"42","author":"Mehta","year":"2021","journal-title":"Indian J Sex Transm Dis AIDS"},{"key":"2025101812383383000_15.1.e085628.44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1186\/s12889-021-10509-1","article-title":"A comparison of the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections among circumcised and uncircumcised adult males in Rustenburg, South Africa: a cross-sectional study","volume":"21","author":"Iyemosolo","year":"2021","journal-title":"BMC Public Health"},{"key":"2025101812383383000_15.1.e085628.45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0170773","article-title":"Costing of National STI Program Implementation for the Global STI Control Strategy for the Health Sector, 2016-2021","volume":"12","author":"Korenromp","year":"2017","journal-title":"PLoS One"},{"key":"2025101812383383000_15.1.e085628.46","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/sti.2008.032334"},{"key":"2025101812383383000_15.1.e085628.47","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(07)60313-4"},{"key":"2025101812383383000_15.1.e085628.48","unstructured":"World Health Organization, Joint United Nations Programme on HIV\/AIDS . WHO\/UNAIDS technical consultation on male circumcision and HIV prevention: research implications for policy and programming. Conclusions and recommendations. 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