HEALTH-SEEKING BEHAVIOR OF PATIENTS WITH SEXUALLY-TRANSMITTED DISEASES IN ZAMBIA

The aim of this paper is to describe health-seeking behaviour, time wi th symptoms and sexual activity during symptom period among patients a ttending the public health sector in urban and rural Zambia for treatm ent of an STD. The study was conducted at two urban health centres and at one rural mission hospital during four months in 1994 and 1995, Fo ur hundred and seventy nine patients seeking health care for STD sympt oms were interviewed. The patients had experienced STD symptoms for on e to two weeks before they came to the clinic. During this period two thirds in the urban and one third in the rural setting had had sex. Si xty per cent of the patients in the urban and 50% in the rural setting had taken some kind of medicine before they came to the clinic. More people had used modern compared to traditional medicine, especially in the urban area. Market places, other clinics and doctors, friends, an d relatives were common treatment sources. Ten per cent had received m edicine from a traditional healer. Thus, a majority of the patients ha d received medication from other sources before they came to the clini c. Sex during periods with STD symptoms was common. This has serious i mplications for STD as well as HIV transmission.