RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate trends in sexually transmitted infections (STI) in Togo. METHOD: This retrospective descriptive study included all STI cases reported from 2005 through 2009. RESULTS: During the study period, 241,561 STI cases were recorded in the six health regions of Togo, for an annual frequency of 48,312 cases. The mean age of patients was 27.4 ± 12.6 years, and those aged from 20 to 30 years accounted for 55.4% of all cases. The sex ratio (male/female) was 0.3. The most common STI syndrome was vaginal discharge (57.2%), followed by pelvic inflammatory disease (24%), urethral discharge (12.1%), and genital ulcer disease (5%). During the study period, the proportion of cases involving urethral discharge increased significantly, rising from 4.2 in 2005 to 4.5 in 2009 (p = 0.02), while the proportion involving genital ulcer disease remained stable (1.6 in 2005 and 2009). The proportion of cases involving vaginal discharge and pelvic inflammatory disease decreased significantly. CONCLUSION: Overall, this study shows that the number of STI cases reported by health facilities in Togo was stable from 2005 to 2009. Continued epidemiological surveillance is important to document STI trends as part of the HIV control program.