In:
International Journal of STD & AIDS, SAGE Publications, Vol. 29, No. 6 ( 2018-05), p. 531-539
Abstract:
Adolescents in Africa are at high risk for HIV infection, other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and bacterial vaginosis (BV). Since behavior and burden of STIs/BV may influence HIV risk, behavioral risk factors and prevalence of STIs/BV were compared in HIV-seronegative adolescent females (n = 298; 16–22 years) from two South African communities (Soweto and Cape Town). STIs ( Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Trichomonas vaginalis, Mycoplasma genitalium, herpes simplex virus (HSV)-1, HSV-2, Treponema pallidum, and Haemophilus ducreyi) were detected by multiplex polymerase chain reaction, human papillomavirus (HPV) by Roche Linear Array, and BV by Nugent scoring. Rates of BV (Nugent ≥7; 46.6%) and HPV (66.8%) were high in both communities. Prevalence of C. trachomatis and N. gonorrhoeae were 〉 2-fold higher in Cape Town than Soweto (Chlamydia: 42% [62/149] versus 18% [26/148] , p 〈 0.0001; gonorrhoea 11% [17/149] versus 5% [7/148] , p = 0.05). Only 24% of adolescents with vaginal discharge-causing STIs or BV were symptomatic. In South African adolescents, clinical symptoms compatible with vaginal discharge syndrome had a sensitivity of 23% and specificity of 85% for the diagnosis of discharge-causing STI or BV. In a region with high HIV prevalence and incidence, 〉 70% of young women with treatable conditions that could enhance HIV risk would have been missed because they lacked symptoms associated with syndromic management.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0956-4624
,
1758-1052
DOI:
10.1177/0956462417740487
Language:
English
Publisher:
SAGE Publications
Publication Date:
2018
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2009782-7