Local Government Legislators' Perceptions of Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Strategies for Generating Political Will for Its Reduction in Osun State, Nigeria

Background: To determine the perceptions of Local Government Legislators (LGLs) in Osun State relating to STDs and political strategies for its reduction.

Objectives: To determine the perceptions of Local Government Legislators (LGLs) in Osun State relating to STDs and political strategies for its reduction.

Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted in the ten Local Government Areas (LGAs). Ten legislators who were Chairmen of house Committees on Health were interviewed using an In-Depth Interview guide while 93 consenting Legislators out of 95 were surveyed. Perceptions on STDs were determined using a 22-point perception scale. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square were used to analyse the quantitative data and the qualitative data were subjected to thematic analysis.

Results: Mean age of respondents was 36.5 ± 7.2 years, 81.8% were males and 91.8% were married. Respondents mean perception score was 10.6 ± 4.4 and 54.5% were of the perception that STDs are not one of the public health problems that need to be prioritized. The perception of 60.9% was that legislators should not finance STDs programme from their constituency allowance. Proffered strategies for generating political will for STDs reduction included training workshop for political leaders (100%) and provision of evidence to show political leaders that STDs are public health problem (87.3%). In-depth interviews also revealed that HIV/AIDS, Immunization, Tuberculosis and Leprosy control were the top priority health programmes in the LGAs.

Conclusions: Negative perceptions of sexually transmitted diseases existed among the legislators and HIV/AIDS was only STD given a priority in local government. Advocacy and the integration of their suggestions into control efforts have potential for ameliorating the problem.

Implications for Programs, Policy, and Research: Local Government Legislators can formulate policies and enacting laws to make STDs a priority among prioritized health programmes in local governments.