Economic hardship and sexually transmitted diseases in Haiti's rural Artibonite Valley

A study was conducted to determine the prevalence rate and risk factors for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in Haiti's rural Artibonite Valley. W omen attending antenatal services at Hospital Albert Schweitzer from Octobe r to December 1996 were tested for gonorrhea, chlamydia, trichomonas, syphi lis, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Of the 476 women tested, 121 ( 25.4%) had trichomonas, 11/475 (2.3%) had gonorrhea, 51/475 (10.7%) had chl amydia, 32/474 (6.8%) were seropositive for syphilis, 20/469 (4.3%) were se ropositive for HIV, and 191 (40.1%) had at least one STD. Nearly 30% of the women reported having entered a sexual relationship out of economic necess ity and had increased odds of HIV infection, Odds Ratio (OR) 6.3 (P < 0.001 ). We postulate that due to recent economic hardship in rural Haiti, women are entering into sexual relationships out of economic necessity and that t his trend is contributing to the growing HIV epidemic. We recommend STD pre vention and development programs that target young people and economically disadvantaged women.