High prevalence of trichomonal vaginitis and chlamydial cervicitis among a rural population in the highlands of Papua New Guinea

We conducted a community-based study of the prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases in rural and periurban communities in Eastern Highlands Province. We interviewed a stratified random sample of women and men, examined the women for evidence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and collected...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inPapua New Guinea medical journal Vol. 39; no. 3; p. 234
Main Authors Tiwara, S, Passey, M, Clegg, A, Mgone, C, Lupiwa, S, Suve, N, Lupiwa, T
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Papua New Guinea 01.09.1996
Subjects
Adolescent
Adult
Age Distribution
Chlamydia Infections - diagnosis
Chlamydia Infections - epidemiology
Data Collection
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Papua New Guinea - epidemiology
Prevalence
Rural Population
Sex Distribution
Sexually Transmitted Diseases - diagnosis
Sexually Transmitted Diseases - epidemiology
Trichomonas Vaginitis - diagnosis
Trichomonas Vaginitis - epidemiology
Uterine Cervicitis - diagnosis
Uterine Cervicitis - epidemiology
Papua New Guinea
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Summary:We conducted a community-based study of the prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases in rural and periurban communities in Eastern Highlands Province. We interviewed a stratified random sample of women and men, examined the women for evidence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and collected specimens for diagnosis of syphilis, by serology and dark-field microscopy, gonorrhoea, by Gram stain and culture, chlamydial infection, by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and direct immunofluorescence (DIF), trichomoniasis, by wet mount, and bacterial vaginosis, by wet mount and Gram stain. The men were tested for chlamydial infection only (first void urine tested by PCR and DIF). 201 women and 169 men were tested. Additionally, adults in the same communities who had not been randomly selected were offered the same services. An extra 243 women and 85 men were tested in this way. The laboratory results confirmed the clinical impression of an extremely high prevalence of STDs in this population. Among those randomly selected, 46% of the women had trichomonal vaginal infections and 26% had Chlamydia trachomatis infections detected by PCR, while 25% of the men had chlamydial infections. Other infections were much less common. 58% had one or more STDs. The prevalence of infection in self-selected adults was similar to that found in those randomly selected.
ISSN:0031-1480