SEXUALLY-TRANSMITTED DISEASES IN TRANSIENT BRITISH FORCES IN THE TROPICS

Objective-To compare the incidence of sexually transmitted diseases (S TD) in British troops in the tropics with that in a standard populatio n. Design-Retrospective analysis of STD clinic records over one calend ar year. Setting-A British Military Hospital in the Tropics sewing 144 1 resident personnel. Subjects-All patients attending a STD clinic. Ma in Findings-815 cases of STD were recorded during the study period, gi ving incidence rate of 56 558 per 100 000 population per year. When co mpared with a matched population from England and Wales, the age stand ardised relative risk for STD amongst tropical troops was 25.0 (95% co nfidence interval 24.9 to 25.1). Thirty nine percent of cases reported prostitute contact as a source of their disease. Of patients question ed about condom usage, 70% reported that they did not normally use a c ondom. Conclusions-British troops spending short periods of time in a tropical environment are,significantly more Likely to acquire a STD th an men in the same age groups in England and Wales. The proportions of cases who reported that they did not use condoms and the number who c ited prostitute contact as a source of infection indicate that even gr eater sexual education of troops on deployment overseas may be require d.