Abstract
BACKGROUND: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are increasing around the world. An estimated over one million people are infected with STIs every day. The prevalence of STIs in Indonesia is largely unknown today. The related factors of self-reported STIs are still unclear and need further assessment. This research aimed to identify the factors associated with self-reported STIs in Indonesia. METHODS: A cross-sectional study design. The data was obtained from the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS), especially the DHS of Indonesia in 2017. The participants were 37,109 sexually active women in Indonesia. The outcome variable was self-reported STIs. Respondents were adults aged 15-49 years old, and the data were analyzed using percentages, chi-squared, and logistic regression. An adjusted OR with a 95% confidence interval was used to identify the strength of association. All tests had alpha levels of 0.05. RESULTS: Self-reported STIs were high among women in Indonesia, with an overall prevalence of 14.32% across all regions. Notably, North Maluku, North Sumatera, Riau, North Kalimantan, and East Nusa Tenggara reported over 20%. Factors associated with higher odds of self-reported STIs included younger age, employment, younger age at sexual activity, and ever heard about STI/HIV, and had lower economic status. CONCLUSIONS: This study's findings highlight demographic, behavioral, and economic factors differences among Indonesian women in regarding the burden of STI, emphasizing the need for targeted prevention and education strategies in high-prevalence regions.