Genital tract infections in sexually active women in Barbados.

Ninety-eight women attending three different clinics were prospectively studied for the presence of genital tract infections, including Chlamydia trachomatis. Of these 98 women, 35 were presenting to a polyclinic with symptoms of genital tract infection, 55 were attending an antenatal clinic for their first visit, and 8 referred to a colposcopy clinic because of an abnormal Papanicolaou smear were included. Gonorrhoea was detected in one patient, syphilis in two, and Trichomonas vaginalis in six. Candida albicans and Chlamydia trachomatis were each detected in 18 patients, while the most common condition was bacterial vaginosis, detected in 35 patients. The prevalence of these infections was lowest in patients referred for colposcopy and highest in the women attending the antenatal clinic. Chlamydia trachomatis was the most common sexually-transmitted pathogen detected in this population. These data emphasise the need for an aggressive approach to the diagnosis and treatment of chlamydial infection in females.

Genital tract infections in sexually active women in Barbados

Ninety-eight women attending three different clinics were prospectively studied for the presence of genital tract infections, including Chlamydia trachomatis. Of these 98 women, 35 were presenting to a polyclinic with symptoms of genital tract infection, 55 were attending an antenatal clinic for their first visit, and 8 referred to a colposcopy clinic because of an abnormal Papanicolaou smear were included. Gonorrhoea was detected in one patient, syphilis in two, and Trichomonas vaginalis in six. Candida albicans and Chlamydia trachomatis were each detected in 18 patients, while the most common condition was bacterial vaginosis, detected in 35 patients. The prevalence of these infections was lowest in patients referred for colposcopy and highest in the women attending the antenatal clinic, Chlamydia trachomatis was the most common sexually-transmitted pathogen detected in this population. These data emphasise the need for an aggressive approach to the diagnosis and treatment of chlamydial infection in females

Genital tract infections in sexually active women in Barbados

Ninety-eight women attending three different clinics were prospectively studied for the presence of genital tract infections, including Chlamydia trachomatis. Of these 98 women, 35 were presenting to a polyclinic with symptoms of genital tract infection, 55 were attending an antenatal clinic for their first visit, and 8 referred to a colposcopy clinic because of an abnormal Papanicolaou smear were included. Gonorrhoea was detected in one patient, syphilis in two, and Trichomonas vaginalis in six. Candida albicans and Chlamydia trachomatis were each detected in 18 patients, while the most common condition was bacterial vaginosis, detected in 35 patients. The prevalence of these infections was lowest in patients referred for colposcopy and highest in the women attending the antenatal clinic, Chlamydia trachomatis was the most common sexually-transmitted pathogen detected in this population. These data emphasise the need for an aggressive approach to the diagnosis and treatment of chlamydial infection in females (AU)

HIV seroprevalence in antenatal women in Barbados - abstract

Barbados has reported, up to the end of September 1991, a total of 231 cases of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), with 162 deaths from the disease. This is one of the highest incidences reported by countries to the World Health Organization. In order to bring the disease under control, one has to estimate the gravity of the problem in at-risk groups within the society. This calls for an organized programme of counselling and testing of individuals and groups who have been exposed, knowingly or unknowingly, to the human immunodeficiency virus - the causitive agent of AIDS. In pursuance of the above objective, the Ministry of Health in Barbados has launched a programme whereby pregnant women are being screened for the virus after they have been counselled, and informed consent obtained. This programme was commenced early in 1991 at the Winston Scott Polyclinic, which serves a catchment area with an estimated population of 58,000 which compares with the total population of 256,000. In addition, a questionnaire, covering the basic demographic and sexual behaviour patterns of the women was completed for each of the participants. During the first ten months of 1991 a total of 401 antenatal women were counselled and 400 tested for HIV. Six (6) were found to be HIV-positive, giving a prevalence rate of 1.5 per cent. One woman refused to be tested. The findings of the questionnaire showed that a large number of respondents were unmarried and had had multiple sexual contacts. Their partners were occasional users of condoms. The findings support the need for more health educaton in relation to the practise of safe sex in the population of women attending the polyclinic (AU)

Prevalence of HIV infection in STD clinic attenders in Barbados - abstract

In October 1987, an HIV counselling and testing study was initiated at Barbados' principal STD Clinic. The aim of the study was to determine the asymptomatic HIV carriage rate in a potentially high-risk population. Sequentially selected patients were counselled, and those agreeing to the HIV test were screened for antibodies, using Karpas AIDS test and the Abbott Recombinant ELISA test. Seropositive results were confirmed by Western Blot at CAREC. One hundred and eighteen males and eighty females were counselled. One hundred and eight males agreed to be tested and six (5.5 percent) were positve. Seventy-six females accepted the test and one (1.3 percent) was positive. The Karpas AIDS test as a screening test correlates satisfactorily with the Abbot ELISA. Of the seropositive patients for whom information is available, five of five males admitted to sex with prostitutes, three of five patients claimed sexual contact with tourists and five of five males admitted to sex with prostitutes, three of five patients claimed sexual contact with tourists and five of six had had a positive VDRL test for syphilis in the previous five years. The females was a prostitute and one of the positive males was bisexual. This male and one other positive male had received a blood transfusion in the previous five years. In this study population, HIV infection appears to be predominantly heterosexually acquired and particularly associated with sexual contact with prostitutes. A possible association between HIV infection sex with tourist needs further study (AU)