**6.2 Detection of bacterial sexually transmitted infection among adolescents**

Adolescents are at an increased risk of STIs. The risk factors for STIs during the adolescent age are as follows: (a) having multiple sex partners, (b) having sequential sex partnerships of limited duration or concurrent partnerships, (c) none compliance to use barrier protection consistently and correctly, (d) low socioeconomic status, and (e) presence of multiple obstacles to health care access [43, 44]. In some developed countries, such as the United States of America, adolescents are allowed by law to seek STD services without the consent of their parents or caregivers. Their health insurance specifies the care needed by the adolescent and such care is provided as necessary [3]. In most developing countries, such as Nigeria, there is no law protecting adolescents with respect to STD services as parents or caregivers must consent before most adolescents can access care in those countries [45]. This is because health insurance is not available to most adolescents and their parents or caregivers pay out of pocket for their health care and there are no laws guiding the adolescents' health care. Obviously, the majority of adolescents who contract STD(s) have to pay out of their pocket to receive care and they do not have the money. The few that have health insurance got it through their parents and the parents must give permission before such adolescents can access care. This compromises the confidentiality needed for the cooperation of adolescents in STI treatment [3]. These now predispose the adolescents to seek care from the alternative unregulated private sector mainly dominated by the herbalists in those resource-limited communities.
