AEGiS-14IAC: Prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases and risk factors in women in a rural area of Southern Mozambique.

14th International AIDS Conference

Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

Prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases and risk factors in women in a rural area of Southern Mozambique.

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. LbPeC9029)

Loscertales MP, Menendez C, Quinto L, Castellsague X, dos Santos F, Lloveras B, Abarca N, Bosch FX, Alonso PL
CISM, Manhica, Mozambique

BACKGROUND: There is little information on the prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases (STD) in rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa, where STDs are one of the major public health problems and their impact in mother and child morbimortality is especially relevant in the context of HIV epidemic.

METHODS: An age-stratified sample of 262 women aged 14 to 61 years was selected among women reporting for antenatal care at a rural maternity centre; and, for older age groups, they were randomly selected from the general population. A socio-demographic and epidemiological questionnaire was. Cervical samples were collected for microbiological test, cytology diagnosis, and HPV DNA detection by Hybrid Capture II. Blood samples were also collected to test for serological markers of STDs. An univariate and multivariate analysis of risk factors adjusting by ethnic group and age, was carried out.

RESULTS: 79%of the women had at least one active STD and 35.3% had 2 or more concurrent STDs. HIV seropositivity was found in 12%, being highest in women between 30-50 years old. Prevalence of significant STD was: syphilis RPR positive test 15%, Neisseria gonorrhoeae 14%, Trichomona vaginalis 31%, Clamidia trachomatis 7.5%, Candida albicans 61%, HSV-2 (antibodies) 83% and HPV 40%. HPV genotype 35 was the most frequently founded in these women. HIV seropositivity was associated to being divorced or widow, increasing number of children and an abnormal cervical citology. HIV seropositive women were more likely to have HPV DNA detected in their cervices.

CONCLUSIONS: STD infections are very common in rural Mozambique and frequency of coinfections is high. Although the peak prevalence of acute STD occurs in the reproductive ages, all age groups are affected. Adolescent women show high prevalence due to early-unprotected sexual practices. STD control measures are a high priority of public health in developing countries.

Keywords: AEGIS, Prevalence, Risk Factors, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, HIV Infections, Papillomavirus, Human, HIV Seropositivity, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Mozambique, Africa South of the Sahara, Human, Female, Adolescence, Child, epidemiology

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LbPeC9029