SEXUALLY-TRANSMITTED DISEASE ACQUISITION AMONG WOMEN INFECTED WITH HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS TYPE-1

Recent evidence suggests that sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) enh ance the transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1. In 143 HIV-infected women enrolled in a university-based longitudinal HI V clinic over 16 months (mean), the STD point prevalence was examined at enrollment and the cumulative prevalence was calculated at follow-u p. At enrollment, 35 women (25%) had greater than or equal to 1 STD. T hese included trichomoniasis in 16 women (11%); syphilis, 9 (6%); geni tal herpes, 8 (6%); gonorrhea, 5 (4%); chlamydia, 5 (4%); genital wart s, 2 (1%); and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), 1 (1%). STDs were fo und in 55 (42%) of the 125 patients who returned for at least one foll ow-up visit: trichomoniasis in 23 (18%); genital herpes, 20 (12%); gon orrhea, 9 (7%); syphilis, 7 (6%); genital warts, 7 (6%); chlamydia, 5 (4%); and PLD, 4 (3%). Despite counseling at both enrollment and follo w-up, these women had a very high cumulative prevalence of STDs, indic ating persistent high-risk sexual behavior.