SEXUALLY-TRANSMITTED DISEASES AND HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS INFECTIONS IN WOMEN ATTENDING AN ANTENATAL CLINIC IN ABIDJAN, COTE-DIVOIRE

A cross-sectional survey was conducted among women attending an antena tal clinic in Abidjan to determine the prevalence of sexually transmit ted diseases (STDs) and HIV infection, and to identify factors associa ted with the presence of gonococcal and/or chlamydial cervical Infecti on. Among 546 women, 3.7% had a gonococcal infection and 5.5% had a ch lamydial infection. The seroprevalence of syphilis and HIV was 1.1% an d 16.2% respectively. Gonococcal and/or chlamydial cervical infection was associated with young age, the presence of endocervical mucopus an d with more than 10 polymorphonuclear leucocytes per high power field in a vaginal smear. None of these associated factors had a large enoug h predictive value to allow its use as a diagnostic criterion. Sexuall y transmitted diseases are common in pregnant women in Abidjan. The de velopment of rapid, inexpensive diagnostic tests for STD is a priority to improve the care of women attending antenatal clinics in the devel oping world.