HIGH PREVALENCE OF SEXUALLY-TRANSMITTED DISEASES IN A RURAL AREA IN MOZAMBIQUE

Objective-To assess the extent of the sexually transmitted diseases (S TDs) problem in a rural area of Mozambique. Methods-A cross sectional study among pregnant women and patients presenting with genital compla ints. Laboratory confirmation was done for gonorrhoea, chlamydial infe ction, active syphilis, trichomoniasis and HIV infection. Setting-A pr imary health care setting in Vilanculos, Inhambane province, Mozambiqu e. Results-Evidence of one or more of the above STDs was found in 51% of 201 pregnant women, 56% of 85 women and 62% of 77 men with genital complaints. Neisseria gonorrhoea or Chlamydia tra-chomatis were found in 16% of pregnant women, 23% of female patients and 28% of male patie nts; genital ulcer disease was present in 6%, 28% and 36%, of respecti vely pregnant women, female and male patients. The prevalence of activ e syphilis was about the same in the three groups of study subjects, t hat is 15%. HIV infection was found in 4% of the male patients; no HIV infection could be detected in the female groups. Conclusion-STDs wer e a major health problem in this rural area in Mozambique. Though HIV infection was still low, the high prevalence of STDs indicates that th e potential is there for an explosive spread of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.