High Prevalence of Sexually Transmitted and Reproductive Tract Infections (STI/RTIs) among Patients Attending STI/Outpatient Department Clinics in Tanzania
We determined the prevalence and reported risk factors associated with sexually transmitted and reproductive tract infections (STI/RTIs) among patients who presented with genital symptoms in STI/outpatient department (OPD) clinics in two regional referral hospitals and six health centres in six regi...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-01-01
|
| Series: | Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2414-6366/8/1/62 |
| _version_ | 1827621455518498816 |
|---|---|
| author | Said Aboud Simon N. Buhalata Onduru G. Onduru Mercy G. Chiduo Gideon P. Kwesigabo Stephen E. Mshana Alphaxard M. Manjurano Mansuet M. Temu Coleman Kishamawe John M. Changalucha |
| author_facet | Said Aboud Simon N. Buhalata Onduru G. Onduru Mercy G. Chiduo Gideon P. Kwesigabo Stephen E. Mshana Alphaxard M. Manjurano Mansuet M. Temu Coleman Kishamawe John M. Changalucha |
| author_sort | Said Aboud |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We determined the prevalence and reported risk factors associated with sexually transmitted and reproductive tract infections (STI/RTIs) among patients who presented with genital symptoms in STI/outpatient department (OPD) clinics in two regional referral hospitals and six health centres in six regions in Tanzania. Methods: The patients were consecutively recruited, and the data collection was conducted in eight health care facilities from 2014 to 2016. Genital swabs were collected for the detection of the aetiological pathogens of STI/RTIs. Results: A total of 1243 participants were recruited in the study; the majority (1073, 86%) were women. The overall median age was 27.8. The prevalence of <i>Neisseria gonorrhoeae</i> was 25.7% (319/1243), with proportions of 50.9 and 21.5% for men and women, respectively, of <i>Chlamydia trachomatis</i> 12.9% (160/1241) and <i>Mycoplasma genitalium</i> 4.7% (53/1134). Unmarried men were more often likely to be infected with gonococcal infections as compared to their women counterparts (57.9 vs. 24.1%) <i>p</i> < 0.001. The majority presented with genital discharge syndrome (GDS) 93.6% (1163/1243), genital ulcer disease (GUD) 13.0% (162/1243) and GDS + GUD 9.6% (119/1243). GDS was more common in the health centres, 96.1% (1195/1243), vs. the regional referral hospitals, 92.2% (1146/1243) (<i>p</i> = 0.01), but those reported to the regional referral hospitals were more likely to be infected with <i>N. gonorrhoeae</i> (OR = 2.5) and <i>C. trachomatis</i> (OR = 2.1) than those from the health centres (<i>p</i> < 0.001). The prevalence of bacterial vaginosis (BV) and vaginal candidiasis (VC) was 24.1 and 10.4%, respectively. Interestingly, unmarried and BV-positive women were less likely to be infected with VC (<i>p</i> = 0.03), though VC was strongly inversely associated with an <i>N. gonorrhoeae</i> infection (<i>p</i> < 0.001). High proportions of <i>N. gonorrhoeae</i> (51.1%) and <i>C. trachomatis</i> (23.3%) were found in the Dodoma and Dar es Salaam regions, respectively. <i>M. genitalium</i> (7.6%) was found to be the highest in Mwanza. Conclusion: We reported a high prevalence of STI/RTIs. The findings suggest that these infections are common and prevalent in STI/OPD clinics in six regions of Tanzania. We recommend surveillance to be conducted regularly to elucidate the true burden of emerging and classical STI/RTIs by employing modern and advanced laboratory techniques for the detection and monitoring of STI/RTIs in low- and high-risk populations, including the community settings. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T11:04:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0af6f30135ae44db862992810c6405d6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2414-6366 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T11:04:48Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease |
| spelling | doaj.art-0af6f30135ae44db862992810c6405d62023-12-01T00:58:36ZengMDPI AGTropical Medicine and Infectious Disease2414-63662023-01-01816210.3390/tropicalmed8010062High Prevalence of Sexually Transmitted and Reproductive Tract Infections (STI/RTIs) among Patients Attending STI/Outpatient Department Clinics in TanzaniaSaid Aboud0Simon N. Buhalata1Onduru G. Onduru2Mercy G. Chiduo3Gideon P. Kwesigabo4Stephen E. Mshana5Alphaxard M. Manjurano6Mansuet M. Temu7Coleman Kishamawe8John M. Changalucha9Departments of Microbiology and Immunology, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), Dar es Salaam P.O. Box 65001, TanzaniaDepartments of Microbiology and Immunology, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), Dar es Salaam P.O. Box 65001, TanzaniaNational Institute for Medical Research, Mwanza Research Centre, Mwanza P.O. Box 1462, TanzaniaNational Institute for Medical Research, Tanga Research Centre, Tanga P.O. Box 5004, TanzaniaDepartments of Microbiology and Immunology, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), Dar es Salaam P.O. Box 65001, TanzaniaDepartment of Medical Microbiology, Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences (CUHAS), Mwanza P.O. Box 1370, TanzaniaNational Institute for Medical Research, Mwanza Research Centre, Mwanza P.O. Box 1462, TanzaniaNational Institute for Medical Research, Mwanza Research Centre, Mwanza P.O. Box 1462, TanzaniaNational Institute for Medical Research, Mwanza Research Centre, Mwanza P.O. Box 1462, TanzaniaNational Institute for Medical Research, Mwanza Research Centre, Mwanza P.O. Box 1462, TanzaniaWe determined the prevalence and reported risk factors associated with sexually transmitted and reproductive tract infections (STI/RTIs) among patients who presented with genital symptoms in STI/outpatient department (OPD) clinics in two regional referral hospitals and six health centres in six regions in Tanzania. Methods: The patients were consecutively recruited, and the data collection was conducted in eight health care facilities from 2014 to 2016. Genital swabs were collected for the detection of the aetiological pathogens of STI/RTIs. Results: A total of 1243 participants were recruited in the study; the majority (1073, 86%) were women. The overall median age was 27.8. The prevalence of <i>Neisseria gonorrhoeae</i> was 25.7% (319/1243), with proportions of 50.9 and 21.5% for men and women, respectively, of <i>Chlamydia trachomatis</i> 12.9% (160/1241) and <i>Mycoplasma genitalium</i> 4.7% (53/1134). Unmarried men were more often likely to be infected with gonococcal infections as compared to their women counterparts (57.9 vs. 24.1%) <i>p</i> < 0.001. The majority presented with genital discharge syndrome (GDS) 93.6% (1163/1243), genital ulcer disease (GUD) 13.0% (162/1243) and GDS + GUD 9.6% (119/1243). GDS was more common in the health centres, 96.1% (1195/1243), vs. the regional referral hospitals, 92.2% (1146/1243) (<i>p</i> = 0.01), but those reported to the regional referral hospitals were more likely to be infected with <i>N. gonorrhoeae</i> (OR = 2.5) and <i>C. trachomatis</i> (OR = 2.1) than those from the health centres (<i>p</i> < 0.001). The prevalence of bacterial vaginosis (BV) and vaginal candidiasis (VC) was 24.1 and 10.4%, respectively. Interestingly, unmarried and BV-positive women were less likely to be infected with VC (<i>p</i> = 0.03), though VC was strongly inversely associated with an <i>N. gonorrhoeae</i> infection (<i>p</i> < 0.001). High proportions of <i>N. gonorrhoeae</i> (51.1%) and <i>C. trachomatis</i> (23.3%) were found in the Dodoma and Dar es Salaam regions, respectively. <i>M. genitalium</i> (7.6%) was found to be the highest in Mwanza. Conclusion: We reported a high prevalence of STI/RTIs. The findings suggest that these infections are common and prevalent in STI/OPD clinics in six regions of Tanzania. We recommend surveillance to be conducted regularly to elucidate the true burden of emerging and classical STI/RTIs by employing modern and advanced laboratory techniques for the detection and monitoring of STI/RTIs in low- and high-risk populations, including the community settings.https://www.mdpi.com/2414-6366/8/1/62<i>N. gonorrhoeae</i><i>C. trachomatis</i>STI/RTIsbacterial vaginosisvaginal candidiasis |
| spellingShingle | Said Aboud Simon N. Buhalata Onduru G. Onduru Mercy G. Chiduo Gideon P. Kwesigabo Stephen E. Mshana Alphaxard M. Manjurano Mansuet M. Temu Coleman Kishamawe John M. Changalucha High Prevalence of Sexually Transmitted and Reproductive Tract Infections (STI/RTIs) among Patients Attending STI/Outpatient Department Clinics in Tanzania Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease <i>N. gonorrhoeae</i> <i>C. trachomatis</i> STI/RTIs bacterial vaginosis vaginal candidiasis |
| title | High Prevalence of Sexually Transmitted and Reproductive Tract Infections (STI/RTIs) among Patients Attending STI/Outpatient Department Clinics in Tanzania |
| title_full | High Prevalence of Sexually Transmitted and Reproductive Tract Infections (STI/RTIs) among Patients Attending STI/Outpatient Department Clinics in Tanzania |
| title_fullStr | High Prevalence of Sexually Transmitted and Reproductive Tract Infections (STI/RTIs) among Patients Attending STI/Outpatient Department Clinics in Tanzania |
| title_full_unstemmed | High Prevalence of Sexually Transmitted and Reproductive Tract Infections (STI/RTIs) among Patients Attending STI/Outpatient Department Clinics in Tanzania |
| title_short | High Prevalence of Sexually Transmitted and Reproductive Tract Infections (STI/RTIs) among Patients Attending STI/Outpatient Department Clinics in Tanzania |
| title_sort | high prevalence of sexually transmitted and reproductive tract infections sti rtis among patients attending sti outpatient department clinics in tanzania |
| topic | <i>N. gonorrhoeae</i> <i>C. trachomatis</i> STI/RTIs bacterial vaginosis vaginal candidiasis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2414-6366/8/1/62 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT saidaboud highprevalenceofsexuallytransmittedandreproductivetractinfectionsstirtisamongpatientsattendingstioutpatientdepartmentclinicsintanzania AT simonnbuhalata highprevalenceofsexuallytransmittedandreproductivetractinfectionsstirtisamongpatientsattendingstioutpatientdepartmentclinicsintanzania AT ondurugonduru highprevalenceofsexuallytransmittedandreproductivetractinfectionsstirtisamongpatientsattendingstioutpatientdepartmentclinicsintanzania AT mercygchiduo highprevalenceofsexuallytransmittedandreproductivetractinfectionsstirtisamongpatientsattendingstioutpatientdepartmentclinicsintanzania AT gideonpkwesigabo highprevalenceofsexuallytransmittedandreproductivetractinfectionsstirtisamongpatientsattendingstioutpatientdepartmentclinicsintanzania AT stephenemshana highprevalenceofsexuallytransmittedandreproductivetractinfectionsstirtisamongpatientsattendingstioutpatientdepartmentclinicsintanzania AT alphaxardmmanjurano highprevalenceofsexuallytransmittedandreproductivetractinfectionsstirtisamongpatientsattendingstioutpatientdepartmentclinicsintanzania AT mansuetmtemu highprevalenceofsexuallytransmittedandreproductivetractinfectionsstirtisamongpatientsattendingstioutpatientdepartmentclinicsintanzania AT colemankishamawe highprevalenceofsexuallytransmittedandreproductivetractinfectionsstirtisamongpatientsattendingstioutpatientdepartmentclinicsintanzania AT johnmchangalucha highprevalenceofsexuallytransmittedandreproductivetractinfectionsstirtisamongpatientsattendingstioutpatientdepartmentclinicsintanzania |