Disease prevalence in women attending the STD clinic in Mumbai (formerly Bombay), India

objectives were to determine the prevalence of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and it s association with other STD causing organisms. Three hundred and thirty-si x consecutive women (female sex workers (FSWs) and married contacts), atten ding a sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic in Mumbai, were screened f or N. gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis and Trichomonas vaginalis. Per spe culum examination was performed and clinical signs were recorded. Symptoms perceived by the women were also recorded. The mean age for married contact s, FSWs and gonorrhoea-positive women was 27.9, 29.7 and 27.5, respectively . 9.7% of the women were positive for N, gonorrhoeae, 23.2% were chlamydia- positive and 5.9% had trichomoniasis. N, gonorrhoeae was isolated more freq uently from FSWs as compared to the married contacts. The prevalence of HIV was significantly higher among women with multiple sex partners (FSWs) (P < 0.001). Gonococcal infection is significantly associated with the presenc e of HIV. A significant association between sexual habits and prevalence of gonorrhoea, trichomoniasis and HIV was observed. The prevalence of gonorrh oea over 1988 to 1996 remained approximately the same.