The Distribution of Seropositivities for Human Immunodeficiency Virus and, Syphilis and the Gonorrhea Positive Rates in Gwangju (2002-2006)

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The epidemic of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is an important public health issue in the worldwide. Therefore, we investigated the trends of the seroprevalence of HIV and, syphilis and the gonorrhea positive rates in Gwangju from 2002 to 2006. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The results of laboratory tests for HIV, syphilis and gonorrhea were collected from five public health centers and 19 hospitals in Gwangju. The number of tested patients from 2002 to 2006 was 348,202 cases for HIV, 80,115 cases for syphilis and, 103,548 cases for gonorrhea. RESULTS: HIV/AIDS infections have rapidly increased at public health centers and hospitals. Especially, most of newly HIV-infected people were patients on ambulatory care/hospitalization, and they were also found via preoperation tests and according to the clinical symptoms. The gonorrhea positive rates have gradually decreased by year while the syphilis infection rates have slightly increased from 2002 to 2006. CONCLUSIONS: We have to determine the reasons why HIV and syphilis infections, but not gonorrhea, have increases simultaneously by the year. These results should be helpful to create a more effective STD prevention policy and the treatment guidelines for the people in Gwangju in the near future.