PREVALENCE OF VAGINITIS, SYPHILIS AND HIV-INFECTION IN WOMEN IN THE ORANGE-FREE-STATE

Objective. To determine the prevalence of vaginitis, syphilis and HN i nfection in women in the Orange Free State. Method. By cluster samplin g, 120 rural (farm) and 120 urban (local authority) clusters, each con taining 4 women, were selected. Women aged 18 - 49 years who were incl uded in the study had a cervical smear taken for cytological evaluatio n and blood specimens drawn for syphilis and HIV testing; they were qu estioned on their knowledge of AIDS. Results. Trichomonas vaginalis va ginitis was present in 27,4% of the rural women and 29,6% of the urban women, Gardnerella vaginalis in 7,2% and 8,4% and Candida spp. in 2,6 % and 6,7% respectively. Syphilis serology was positive in 12% of rura l and 16% of urban women. HIV was present in 0,4% of rural and 1,5% of urban women. Ninety per cent of urban women and 74% of rural women kn ew AIDS was a sexually transmitted disease. Conclusions. The prevalenc es of trichomonas vaginitis and syphilis were unusually high, while HI V positivity was similar to that in other reports in South Africa.