[Chlamydia trachomatis in family planning. Is screening necessary?]. / Infecção cervical a chlamydia trachomatis em planeamento familiar. E o rastreio necessário?

The authors used cellular cultures obtained from endocervix samples in order to determine the predominant factors of infection caused by Chlamydia trachomatis in a population of 391 women who attended a family planning consultation. The authors studied the relation between the infection and the following variables: age, geographical origin, social class, marital status, history of sexually transmitted diseases (STD), risk behaviours, contraceptive methods and attitudes towards both the disease and therapy. Chlamydia trachomatis was isolated in 7 women (1,8%). The highest infection rates were found in the following categories: women between the ages of 35-40 (4,9%), women who resort to hormonal contraception (3,4%), women between the ages of 20-25 (3,2%) and single women and/or women who do not have a regular partner (2,6%). No statistically relevant relation between the above variables and the infection was found, although a relatively high risk was revealed for women who resort to hormonal contraception (O.R = 7,4). The authors have concluded the following: 1. There is no need to proceed with the systematic universal screening of infection caused by Chlamydia trachomatis in the yearly family planning consultations for the low risk STD populations; 2. Hormonal contraception is a factor to be considered when selecting the women to be screened; 3. The yearly gynaecological supervision of women who attend family planning consultations is an important factor in checking the disease; 4. Information on the couple's attitude towards the disease and therapy is essential in the prevention of relapses.

Sexual behaviour in the city of Lisbon.

This study of sexual behaviour in the city of Lisbon is based on data obtained from 2 random samples, one of individuals aged 16-20 (n = 400) and another of individuals over the age of 20 (n = 400). Samples have been stratified by district, gender and age. Data were obtained by personal interview and by questionnaires completed confidentially by the interviewees. The data include the age of first sexual intercourse, the number of sexual partners, the prevalence of casual relations and the type of sexual practices according to sex and age group. Results show that despite the high risk of exposure to HIV in a significant percentage of the population, AIDS is seen as a personal threat by only 20% of the population. Six per cent of the adults (aged 21 and over) and 12% of the young people (16-20) replied that they had not yet considered the problem; 73.5% of the adults and 67.4% of the young people stated that they did not feel threatened by the disease. Data suggest that the differences between men and women have decreased. Among the sexually active population, only 12% of individuals under 21 and 8% of the adults use condoms regularly. The awareness of infidelity among couples is much lower than in reality.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Prevalence of HIV1 and HIV2 infection in women living in an area of Lisboa City]. / Análise da seroprevalência da infecção pelo HIV1 e HIV2 em mulheres residentes numa área da cidade de Lisboa.

A seroprevalence study of HIV1 and HIV2 infection in women attending a Family Planning and an Antenatal Clinic was done in an area of the city of Lisbon where 7% of the population is of African origin. The protocol of study was of non linked type although with the possibility of collecting a second sample of blood for confirmation of results. Epidemiological, social and clinical data were collected from 1390 women and this was followed by the collection of a blood sample for the seroepidemiological study of HIV1 and HIV2. The population that was submitted to blood tests (75%) was compared to the one that missed the test and it was found that no important differences were present between the two. The criteria for HIV1 or HIV2 positive results were the presence of a positive ELISA test confirmed by an Western Blot revealing antibodies against the three proteins env, core and gag. For a test to be considered positive results by both methods had to be found in a second sample collected later. The prevalences of infection were of 0.29% for HIV1 and 0.29% for HIV2 although the prevalence of HIV2 in the population of African origin was higher (1.45%). The six seropositive cases detected included a drug addict, one prostitute, one case of African origin and two cases with multiple sexual partners. The clinical, epidemiological and immunological features of the seropositive cases are presented and the prevalence found is discussed in the context of other portuguese data.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)