PREGNANT-WOMEN AS A RESERVOIR OF UNDETECTED SEXUALLY-TRANSMITTED DISEASES IN RURAL SOUTH-AFRICA - IMPLICATIONS FOR DISEASE-CONTROL

Citation
Aw. Sturm et al., PREGNANT-WOMEN AS A RESERVOIR OF UNDETECTED SEXUALLY-TRANSMITTED DISEASES IN RURAL SOUTH-AFRICA - IMPLICATIONS FOR DISEASE-CONTROL, American journal of public health, 88(8), 1998, pp. 1243-1245
Citations number
13
Categorie Soggetti
Public, Environmental & Occupation Heath","Public, Environmental & Occupation Heath
ISSN journal
00900036
Volume
88
Issue
8
Year of publication
1998
Pages
1243 - 1245
Database
ISI
SICI code
0090-0036(1998)88:8<1243:PAAROU>2.0.ZU;2-2
Abstract
Objectives. This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of s exually transmitted diseases (STDs) in pregnant women in rural South A frica and to determine the value of using abnormal urogenital symptoms to identify infected women. Methods. This was a cross-sectional study of 327 patients attending prenatal clinics. Results. Of the 271 women with complete data, 141 (52%) had at least 1 STD and 49 (18%) had mor e than 1. Abnormal symptoms were common (n = 225; 83%), but associatio ns were weak, and the positive predictive value of different symptoms for infection ranged from 2% to 54%. Conclusions. Most STDs in rural S outh African women remain undetected and untreated. As the scope for l aboratory diagnosis in resource-poor settings is limited, presumptive treatment of pregnant women and their partners may be a cost-effective option to reduce transmission of STDs and HIV infection.