Prevalance of sexually transmitted diseases among a selected group of Pakistani women

ABSTRACT

Sexually transmitted diseases or sexually transmissible infections are terms used interchangeably and remains a subject of great interest. Venereal diseases among females are a double-edged sword with an additional risk of transplacental and perinatal spread. The subject remains neglected in Pakistan, while disaster like Hepatitis B and HIV infections are at our doorsteps arleady. Just to take an initiative we attempted to asess prevalence of STD's among a selected group of Pakistani women. A strictly confidential interview including sexual history was followed by examination and laboratory screening. Overall prevalence was not high with one woman having a past history of Syphilis. l patient was culture positive for Chlamydia Trachomatis, 2% were serologically positive for Hepatitis B surface antigen while 22% were positive for Trichomonas Vaginalis. None was found psoitive for HIV. This small study cannot be representative of the whole society, similar studies have to be designed at wider scales for the calcualtion of the exact risk we are exposed. Only then definite prevention and control strategies can be defined to suit our local population