The Silent Epidemic: STDs Among Students

 

On a bright Monday afternoon, Cynthia sat quietly in the waiting area of the Jaja clinic, her fingers trembling as she scrolled through instagram. The nurse had just called her in for test results, and her heart pounded with a fear she couldn’t name. A few weeks ago, she’d brushed off an unusual burning sensation around her private part, thinking it would pass. At the waiting area, she wished she hadn’t waited so long.

In the University of Ibadan, many students are silently battling Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs). STDs are infections that thrive not just in the body, but in the shadows of shame, secrecy, and misinformation.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than one million sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are acquired globally every day, most of which are asymptomatic. A growing number of these cases involve young adults between 15 and 24 years. This is an age group that makes up the majority of students in tertiary institutions. Despite the numbers, the topic remains one of the most uncomfortable conversations among youths.

At first glance, students appear informed. They talk about relationships, sex, and health online with surprising openness. Beneath the social media banter lives a scarier reality. A lot of people don’t know enough about STDs until it’s too late.

Common infections such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and human papillomavirus (HPV) are increasingly found among students, yet discussions around them remain almost taboo. The fear of being judged, or worse, being labelled keeps many from getting tested or seeking help. Specifically, the rise in STDs among students can be traced to curiosity, misinformation, and cultural silence. For many, sex education is minimal or moralized, discussed in hushed tones or avoided entirely.

As a result, myths flourish that condoms are only for “promiscuous people,” that faithful partners can’t transmit infections, or that visible symptoms are always present but none of these are true. To the cause, peer pressure, alcohol use, and unprotected sex during social gatherings also play their part. In some cases, students who seek information online fall into the trap of misinformation or self-medication, worsening their conditions.

“I was too embarrassed to go to the clinic,” said Debo, a final-year student in Faculty of Science. “So, I bought antibiotics from the pharmacy and took them without a prescription. The symptoms went away for a while but came back worse. That was when I realized I needed help.”

The problem isn’t just ignorance. There is a lack of privacy or confidentiality among nurses, discouraging students from seeking help. Some fear that health workers might gossip or that their mates might notice them entering the clinic.

In furtherance of these myths, cultural and religious beliefs complicate things. In a society where sex is often treated as a moral issue rather than a health matter, students struggle with guilt and shame. For women especially, the double standard is severe; being sexually active attracts judgment, while seeking help attracts even more. Until these barriers are addressed, awareness campaigns will continue to meet silence instead of progress.

The fight against STDs among students requires more than just posters and pamphlets. It demands empathy, education, and courage. Universities can make a huge difference by integrating comprehensive sex education into orientation programs, promoting anonymous testing, and ensuring confidential medical support. Technology can play its part too. Mobile health apps, chatbots, and social media campaigns can provide private and accurate information about prevention, testing, and treatment.

Students themselves also hold power. Choosing safe sex, getting tested regularly, and speaking openly about sexual health are small but powerful acts of responsibility. As one student leader put it, “It’s not about being immoral or moral. It’s about being informed and safe.” Parents and faith-based communities can help by changing the tone of the conversation. Instead of fear or condemnation, discussions should focus on protection, empathy, and healing.

Every infection untreated is an untold story of another student hiding in silence. The stigma surrounding STDs feeds ignorance, and the ignorance fuels more infections. Breaking this cycle starts with replacing shame with understanding.

As Cythia walked out of the clinic that afternoon, she was relieved. Her diagnosis could be cured, and more importantly, she had found the courage to face it.