Sexually transmitted infections and reproductive health in Azerbaijan

Background: Little is known about the prevalence of sexually transmitted in fections (STIs) and about sexual and reproductive health in Central and Eas tern Europe. However, it is clear that major epidemics of STIs currently ex ist. Goal: To provide baseline information for the development of national guide lines on the management of STIs in Azerbaijan, Study Design: A prevalence study on STIs, including a questionnaire on sexu al and reproductive health, in two regions of Azerbaijan targeted three gro ups: (1) pregnant women, (2) gynecology patients, and (3) men attending a d ermatovenereology clinic, Results: The 407 pregnant women in this study had a mean of 1.47 abortions and 1.40 births per woman. Of these women, 12% reported condom use and 41% previous symptoms of a sexually transmitted infection. Active syphilis was found in 1.7% of the women. The 326 gynecology patients had a mean of 2.54 abortions and 2.63 births per woman. Of these patients, 11% reported use of modern contraceptives, 18.3% previous condom use, and 63% previous symptom s of an STI, The prevalence of active syphilis was 2.2%, Chlamydia trachoma tis 3.1%, Neisseria gonorrhoeae 2.8%, Trichomonas vaginalis 7.1%, Candida 3 3.1%, and bacterial vaginosis 32.5%. Of the 197 male patients, 67% reported multiple partners in the past 3 months, 62% money exchanged for sex, 37% c ondom use ever, and 40% a history of STIs, Active syphilis was found in 9.5 % of the men, C trachomatis in 5.9%, N gonorrhoeae in 17%,, and T vaginalis in 4.4%. Conclusions: The data show high-risk behavior in the men attending STI clin ics, poor sexual and reproductive health status in the women, and underrepo rting of official data.