Sexual Transmitted Infections and the Risks

Pain is said to be an abnormality in the human condition. Therefore, symptoms such as a painful discharge, fever or sore throats should already set off alarm bells, as they can lead to more serious bacterial invasions, sometimes in the form of sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Many find it unpleasant to visit the doctor and explain these symptoms, but it is necessary as more innocent people are falling prey to STIs at the expense of others. Undetectable at times, but often agonising, STIs are becoming increasingly common in the country, with statistics in a Namibian study titled ‘Sexually Transmitted Infections in Adolescents’ stating that school-going adolescents are becoming more engaged in sexual intercourse.

Mostly prevalent in youth below 25, the socio-economic factors surrounding the increase include poverty, where sex is exchanged for material items used for sustainability, as well as “force, violence and transactional reasons”. Brutally put, rape can lead to STIs and with the cumulation of rape victims and sexual promiscuity in the country, people with STIs have unfortunately grown in numbers.

However, some people engage in sexual activities with multiple partners,while they are aware of their status. In other countries such as the United States, laws have been created where people who intentionally infect others are liable to criminal prosecution.

Countries in Europe (mostly English-speaking) who have signed the European Convention of Human Rights can also prosecute people guilty of wilful transmission.

In 2015, an article appeared in The Namibian, surrounding the controversies of a 40-year-old man who intentionally transmitted HIV-Aids to about 40 women since his diagnosis in 2002. Claiming that his way of life led to sleeping with women under the influence of alcohol, he also pleaded ignorance to his act being a criminal offense. Based on Unam law professor Nico Horn’s observations at the time, he said there is no specific law where people who spread HIV can be prosecuted, but “people can be prosecuted for this wilful misconduct”.

In a case where someone is interested in testing for an STI, general practitioner Dr Didier Basila emphasised how the practice would test for the syndromic approach. “This is the type of treatment we would use to cover the big number of STIs and diagnose them.”

STI screenings are treated as syndromes, therefore, if you display a symptom for one specific type of STI, you would be tested for many instead, with the same types of symptoms. For example, a penile discharge may be due to gonorrhoea and chlamydia which will lead to both being tested for.

In terms of the costs involved, at a public hospital, a consultation fee will be required and that’s it, aside from the normal prescription costs which have to be paid for. But in a private practice, however, if say injections are necessary in your treatment, the doctor will notify you in advance.

“It will not cost you a lot of money,” Dr Basila explained, further stating that an injection could take an extra N$50 from your pocket.

“Most people get STIs and wonder how they got them, but if you have an ex partner, you need to tell them in a certain way, not in an accusatory manner. Infections can clear as long as there are no third parties.”

Dirty toilets may also be a factor, where you can catch chlamydia, but multiple sexual partners are the most common cause. Although you may not be together as a couple, it is important to inform them to go testing as soon as possible, together or not.

The most common STIs are quite difficult to place as, according to the World Health Organisation, there are over 340 million new cases of cases of curable bacterial and protozoal sexually transmitted infections (STIs), but the moment you acquire new symptoms, testing at a medical practice, whether state or private, is crucial.

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