Risk factors for sexually transmitted infections in women in rural Northeast Brazil

Background: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are highly prevalent in northeast Brazil, but factors associated with the presence of an STI have rarely been studied systematically. Methodology: We performed a population-based study to assess factors associated with STIs in women of reproductive...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Fabíola Araújo Oliveira, Katrin Lang, Viola Ehrig, Jorg Heukelbach, Francisco Fraga, Marina Stoffler-Meilicke, Ralf Ignatius, Ligia Regina Franco Sansigolo Kerr, Hermann Feldmeier
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries 2008-06-01
Series:Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
Subjects:
Online Access:https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/265
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850148189593665536
author Fabíola Araújo Oliveira
Katrin Lang
Viola Ehrig
Jorg Heukelbach
Francisco Fraga
Marina Stoffler-Meilicke
Ralf Ignatius
Ligia Regina Franco Sansigolo Kerr
Hermann Feldmeier
author_facet Fabíola Araújo Oliveira
Katrin Lang
Viola Ehrig
Jorg Heukelbach
Francisco Fraga
Marina Stoffler-Meilicke
Ralf Ignatius
Ligia Regina Franco Sansigolo Kerr
Hermann Feldmeier
author_sort Fabíola Araújo Oliveira
collection DOAJ
description Background: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are highly prevalent in northeast Brazil, but factors associated with the presence of an STI have rarely been studied systematically. Methodology: We performed a population-based study to assess factors associated with STIs in women of reproductive age (12 to 49 years) in a rural setting in northeast Brazil. A total of 734 women were eligible; 592 (80.7%) had initiated sexual life and were included. Women were examined for the presence of an STI. Socio-economic variables, sexual history, and behaviour were assessed through a structured questionnaire. Laboratory testing included: polymerase chain reaction for human papillomavirus (HPV); ligase chain reaction for Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae; VDRL and FTA-ABS for Treponema pallidum; analysis of wet mounts, gram stain and Pap smears for Trichomonas vaginalis; and ELISA for HIV. Results: At least one STI was present in 112 (19.6%) of the women. In logistic regression analysis, a previous visit to a Pap smear clinic was protective against an STI (OR=0.26; IC 95%: 0.12-0.57). The following variables were independently associated with STIs: ≥3 partners in life (2.35; 1.32-4.17); first pregnancy
format Article
id doaj-art-c421efce6e7c4760957783b302cd9aae
institution OA Journals
issn 1972-2680
language English
publishDate 2008-06-01
publisher The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
record_format Article
series Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
spelling doaj-art-c421efce6e7c4760957783b302cd9aae2025-08-20T02:27:19ZengThe Journal of Infection in Developing CountriesJournal of Infection in Developing Countries1972-26802008-06-0120310.3855/jidc.265Risk factors for sexually transmitted infections in women in rural Northeast BrazilFabíola Araújo Oliveira0Katrin Lang1Viola Ehrig2Jorg Heukelbach3Francisco Fraga4Marina Stoffler-Meilicke5Ralf Ignatius6Ligia Regina Franco Sansigolo Kerr7Hermann Feldmeier8Department of Community Health, School of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, FortalezaInstitute of Microbiology and Hygiene, Charité, Campus Benjamin Franklin, BerlinInstitute of Microbiology and Hygiene, Charité, Campus Benjamin Franklin, BerlinDepartment of Community Health, School of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, FortalezaPacoti MunicipalityInstitute of Virology, Charité, Campus Benjamin Franklin, BerlinInstitute of Microbiology and Hygiene, Charité, Campus Benjamin Franklin, BerlinDepartment of Community Health, School of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, FortalezaInstitute of Microbiology and Hygiene, Charité, Campus Benjamin Franklin, BerlinBackground: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are highly prevalent in northeast Brazil, but factors associated with the presence of an STI have rarely been studied systematically. Methodology: We performed a population-based study to assess factors associated with STIs in women of reproductive age (12 to 49 years) in a rural setting in northeast Brazil. A total of 734 women were eligible; 592 (80.7%) had initiated sexual life and were included. Women were examined for the presence of an STI. Socio-economic variables, sexual history, and behaviour were assessed through a structured questionnaire. Laboratory testing included: polymerase chain reaction for human papillomavirus (HPV); ligase chain reaction for Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae; VDRL and FTA-ABS for Treponema pallidum; analysis of wet mounts, gram stain and Pap smears for Trichomonas vaginalis; and ELISA for HIV. Results: At least one STI was present in 112 (19.6%) of the women. In logistic regression analysis, a previous visit to a Pap smear clinic was protective against an STI (OR=0.26; IC 95%: 0.12-0.57). The following variables were independently associated with STIs: ≥3 partners in life (2.35; 1.32-4.17); first pregnancy https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/265Sexually transmitted infectionsrisk factorspopulation-based studyepidemiologyBrazil
spellingShingle Fabíola Araújo Oliveira
Katrin Lang
Viola Ehrig
Jorg Heukelbach
Francisco Fraga
Marina Stoffler-Meilicke
Ralf Ignatius
Ligia Regina Franco Sansigolo Kerr
Hermann Feldmeier
Risk factors for sexually transmitted infections in women in rural Northeast Brazil
Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
Sexually transmitted infections
risk factors
population-based study
epidemiology
Brazil
title Risk factors for sexually transmitted infections in women in rural Northeast Brazil
title_full Risk factors for sexually transmitted infections in women in rural Northeast Brazil
title_fullStr Risk factors for sexually transmitted infections in women in rural Northeast Brazil
title_full_unstemmed Risk factors for sexually transmitted infections in women in rural Northeast Brazil
title_short Risk factors for sexually transmitted infections in women in rural Northeast Brazil
title_sort risk factors for sexually transmitted infections in women in rural northeast brazil
topic Sexually transmitted infections
risk factors
population-based study
epidemiology
Brazil
url https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/265
work_keys_str_mv AT fabiolaaraujooliveira riskfactorsforsexuallytransmittedinfectionsinwomeninruralnortheastbrazil
AT katrinlang riskfactorsforsexuallytransmittedinfectionsinwomeninruralnortheastbrazil
AT violaehrig riskfactorsforsexuallytransmittedinfectionsinwomeninruralnortheastbrazil
AT jorgheukelbach riskfactorsforsexuallytransmittedinfectionsinwomeninruralnortheastbrazil
AT franciscofraga riskfactorsforsexuallytransmittedinfectionsinwomeninruralnortheastbrazil
AT marinastofflermeilicke riskfactorsforsexuallytransmittedinfectionsinwomeninruralnortheastbrazil
AT ralfignatius riskfactorsforsexuallytransmittedinfectionsinwomeninruralnortheastbrazil
AT ligiareginafrancosansigolokerr riskfactorsforsexuallytransmittedinfectionsinwomeninruralnortheastbrazil
AT hermannfeldmeier riskfactorsforsexuallytransmittedinfectionsinwomeninruralnortheastbrazil