Sexually transmitted infections, the silent partner in HIV-infected women in Zimbabwe
Southern African Journal of HIV Medicine
| Field | Value | |
| Title | Sexually transmitted infections, the silent partner in HIV-infected women in Zimbabwe | |
| Creator | Lowe, Sara Mudzviti, Tinashe Mandiriri, Ardele Shamu, Tinei Mudhokwani, Petronella Chimbetete, Cleophas Luethy, Ruedi Pascoe, Margaret | |
| Description | Background: Coinfection rates of HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are not widely reported in Zimbabwe and no local guidelines regarding the screening of STIs in people living with HIV exist.Objectives: This cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors for STI coinfection in a cohort of HIV-infected women.Methods: Between January and June 2016, 385 HIV-infected women presenting for routine cervical cancer screening were tested for five STIs: Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), Chlamydia trachomatis(CT), Trichomonas vaginalis (TV), Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) type 2 and Treponema pallidum (TP). Socio-demographic characteristics and sexual history were recorded. Multiple logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with the diagnosis of non-viral STIs.Results: Two hundred and thirty-three participants (60.5%) had a confirmed positive result for at least one STI: HSV 2 prevalence 52.5%, TV 8.1%, CT 2.1%, NG 1.8% and TP 11.4%. Eighty-seven per cent of the women were asymptomatic for any STI; 62.3% of women with a non-viral STI were asymptomatic. Women who had attended tertiary education were 90% less likely to have a non-viral STI (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 0.10, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.03–0.39, p 0.01). Having more than three lifetime sexual partners was a significant predictor for a non-viral STI diagnosis (aOR: 3.3, 95% CI: 1.5–7.2, p 0.01).Conclusion: A high prevalence of predominantly asymptomatic STIs is reported in a cohort of HIV-infected women. Syndromic management results in underdiagnosis of asymptomatic patients. More than three lifetime sexual partners and less formal education are risk factors for coinfection with non-viral STI. High-risk women should be screened using aetiological methods. | |
| Publisher | AOSIS | |
| Date | 2019-01-23 | |
| Identifier | 10.4102/sajhivmed.v20i1.849 | |
| Source | Southern African Journal of HIV Medicine; Vol 20, No 1 (2019); 6 pages 2078-6751 1608-9693 | |
| Language | eng | |
| Relation |
The following web links (URLs) may trigger a file download or direct you to an alternative webpage to gain access to a publication file format of the published article:
https://sajhivmed.org.za/index.php/hivmed/article/view/849/1316
https://sajhivmed.org.za/index.php/hivmed/article/view/849/1315
https://sajhivmed.org.za/index.php/hivmed/article/view/849/1317
https://sajhivmed.org.za/index.php/hivmed/article/view/849/1313
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