ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To estimate the frequency of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) among sex workers and drug users in Pakistan. METHODS: Interviews were conducted on 3640 sex workers, injection drug users and truckers about STI symptoms within the past year and currently and the care they sought for them. RESULTS: Nearly half (46%) reported STI symptoms in the past 12 months and 55% went for treatment. Most of the care sought was from the private sector and more by IDUs and female sex workers. Increasing age or having a genital ulcer predicted care seeking. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest the need to understand the factors determining care seeking among members of high risk groups; and emphasizing the role of the private health care providers in treatment and control of STIs.
Subject(s)
Patient Acceptance of Health Care , Sex Work , Sexually Transmitted Diseases/epidemiology , Substance-Related Disorders/epidemiology , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Child , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Pakistan/epidemiology , Regression Analysis , Sexually Transmitted Diseases/therapy , Young AdultABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of reproductive tract infections (RTIs) among the Female Sex Workers (FSWs), Male Sex Workers (MSWs), Injecting Drug Users (IDUs) and truck drivers. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Lahore and Karachi, from March to August, 2004. METHODOLOGY: Four hundred FSWs, 400 MSWs, 200 eunuchs, 400 IDUs and 400 truck drivers were interviewed and examined. Biological testing included PCR and ELISA. RESULTS: The mean prevalence of syphilis was 17.7% (95% CI: 15.1-20.3%). Genital gonorrhoea was found among 0.8-12.3% of subjects with mean of 4.5% (95% CI: 0.8-5.2%). Genital chlamydia was seen in 0.2-11% individuals with mean of 2.6% (95% CI: 2.1-3.1%). Trichomonas was present in 19.3% FSWs of Lahore and 5.52% FSWs of Karachi. Only 0.8% truckers in Lahore had trichomonas. In Lahore, 47.6% FSWs and in Karachi, 27.4% FSWs were positive for bacterial vaginosis. A vast majority of IDUs, 91.8% in Lahore and 87% in Karachi were hepatitis C positive. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of syphilis is very high among all high-risk groups; particularly so among eunuchs (60.2% in Karachi and 32.3% in Lahore). Such a high levels of RTIs indicate a serious threat for HIV epidemic because of socially transmitted infection.
Subject(s)
Genital Diseases, Female/epidemiology , Genital Diseases, Male/epidemiology , Sexually Transmitted Diseases/epidemiology , Chlamydia Infections/diagnosis , Chlamydia Infections/epidemiology , Chlamydia Infections/microbiology , Confidence Intervals , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Female , Genital Diseases, Female/diagnosis , Genital Diseases, Female/microbiology , Genital Diseases, Female/parasitology , Genital Diseases, Male/diagnosis , Genital Diseases, Male/microbiology , Genital Diseases, Male/parasitology , Gonorrhea/diagnosis , Gonorrhea/epidemiology , Gonorrhea/microbiology , Humans , Male , Pakistan/epidemiology , Prevalence , Risk Assessment , Risk Factors , Sexually Transmitted Diseases/diagnosis , Sexually Transmitted Diseases/microbiology , Sexually Transmitted Diseases/parasitology , Surveys and Questionnaires , Syphilis/epidemiology , Trichomonas Infections/epidemiology , Trichomonas Infections/parasitology , Vaginosis, Bacterial/epidemiologyABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To study the characteristics of the epileptics and the risk factors contributing to the development of epilepsy. DESIGN: Descriptive study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Epilepsy Clinic at Ahbab Hospital, Lahore, from June 2002 to August 2002. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Data was collected from 158 subjects, 89 males and 69 females, suffering from epilepsy. The information about socio-demographic characteristics and family history of illness, perinatal morbidity, birth place and mother s age at the time of delivery was obtained using a pre-tested questionnaire. Data was analyzed on SPSS version 10. RESULTS: Majority of the subjects were single (77.84%), 1st born among their siblings (25.95%), belonged to low social class (50.63%), and unemployed (25.31%). The major risk factors were family history of illness (23.52%) and positive medical problem around birth (12.66%). The presence of family history of illness, positive medical problem around birth and advanced maternal age at birth were associated with early onset of epilepsy. Vulnerability for the epilepsy also increases among hospital deliveries. CONCLUSION: Although the present study has identified various risk factors, yet the results need to be further confirmed through case-control studies.
