The prevalence of lower genital tract infections among ante-natal care (ANC) clinic patients in two central hospitals, Vientiane, Lao People's Democratic Republic.

This study of lower genital tract infections in pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in Vientiane, Lao PDR is a response to the reported rapid increase in the number of HIV infections in neighboring countries, and is a recognition of the important role of reproductive tract infections in facilitating HIV transmission. This cross-sectional study determines the prevalence of lower genital tract infections among 500 antenatal attendees (gestational age < or = 20 weeks) attending two hospitals serving urban areas in Vientiane, between September 2001 and March 2002. Most participants were housewives (64.4%) and government workers (16.0%). Their husbands were mainly government officers (31.4%), laborers or farmers (30.2%), and businessmen (12.4%). Sixty-four percent reported a past history of "any vaginal complaints" with 44.2% having sought treatment. Candida spp had the highest prevalence of all infections (27.0%), followed by bacterial vaginosis (14.4% by Amsel's criteria and 22.0% by Nugent's score), C. trachomatis (10.2% by nucleic acid hybridization and 9.6% by PCR), T. vaginalis (1.8%), and N. gonorrhoeae (0.8%), but no syphilis serological markers. Taken in conjunction with other surveillance data from the same period, this study indicates an opportunity to prevent epidemic spread into the community of both sexually transmitted disease and HIV by appropriate preventative programed activities, including treatment services targeted at higher risk community groups.

Prevalence of lower genital tract infection among women attending maternal and child health and family planning clinics in Hanoi, Vietnam.

To determine the prevalence of lower genital tract infection (LGTI) with Candida spp, Trichomonas vaginalis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, and bacterial vaginosis among symptomatic and asymptomatic women attending maternal and child health and family planning (MCH/FP) clinics in Hanoi, Vietnam. A multi-centered, cross-sectional descriptive study stratified by reported symptoms of vaginal discharge was carried out in three MCH/FP clinics among 1,000 women aged 18-44 years in 1998. Of these, 89.1% lived in Hanoi, 97.6% were currently married, and 99.2% had only one sexual partner in the past 12 months. Regarding their contraceptive use, 28.2% did not use any contraception, 25.6% used an intrauterine device (IUD), 22.8% used condoms, and 23.4% used other methods. The overall prevalence of Candida spp was 11.1% (95% CI = 9.1-13.1%); T. vaginalis, 1.3% (95% CI = 0.6-2.0%); no gonococcal infection was found; the prevalence of C. trachomatis was 4.4% (95% CI = 3.1-5.7%); and of bacterial vaginosis, 3.5% (95% CI = 2.4-4.6%). The presence of LGTI was not associated with reported symptom of vaginal discharge. LGTI was common among married and monogamous women attending MCH/FP clinics in Hanoi, of whom many used IUDs and may have an increased risk of complications in the presence of LGTI. The lack of association between symptoms and laboratory-confirmed infection underscores the challenge of diagnosing LGTI when laboratory testing is not available.