PREVALENCE AND FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES AMONG PATIENTS ATTENDING RWAMAGANA LEVEL II TEACHING HOSPITAL, RWANDA.

Background: Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) continue to be a concerning challenge, with over 374 million new cases reported annually, predominantly in low- and middle-income countries, which represent about 90% of these infections. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence and factors associated with sexually transmitted diseases among patients attending Rwamagana Level II Teaching Hospital. Methods: This was a hospital-based cross-sectional study design conducted from December 2025 to January 2026, which used quantitative approach to assess the prevalence and factors associated with STIs among patients attending Rwamagana Level II Teaching Hospital. A total of 440 participants were chosen relying on simple random sampling from the hospital’s catchment area population of 484,953. Data were collected using structured questionnaires complemented by laboratory testing and analyzed using univariate, bivariate, and multivariate logistic regression methods at a significance level of 0.05. Findings: The study found an overall STDs prevalence of 4.8%, with gonorrhea (1.8%) and chlamydia (1.4%) being the most commonly identified infections. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that behavioral and sexual practice-related factors were the most factors associated with STI occurrence, including having two or more current sexual partners (AOR = 3.982; 95% CI: 1.462–10.851; p = 0.003), early sexual debut before 18 years of age (AOR = 3.245; 95% CI: 1.504–6.995; p = 0.002), recreational drug use (AOR = 3.876; 95% CI: 1.983–7.574; p = 0.001), non-use of condoms with casual partners (AOR = 4.115; 95% CI: 1.876–9.029; p = 0.001), and engagement in same-gender sexual activity (AOR = 2.984; 95% CI: 1.214–7.331; p = 0.017). Conclusion: The study concluded that sexual behavioral factors are the core links to STDs and recommends strengthening preventive behavioral interventions, promoting condom use, integrate harm-reduction strategies, expand STI screening, prioritize inclusive sexual health education, and treatment access.