title: The prevalence of symptomatic sexually transmitted diseases and human immunodeficiency virus infection in outpatients in Lilongwe, Malawi.
abstract: In June 1989 a pilot study on the prevalence of STDs was performed at Kamuzu Central Hospital, Lilogwe, Malawi. Among unselected out-patients an STD prevalence of 4.4% was found. The patients were predominantly males (82.7%), the age was predominantly 20-35 yr. The distribution of the diagnoses was dominated by a relatively large proportion of "ulcer-diseases" (syphilis, chancroid and lymphogranuloma venereum) making up 67% of the patients. Almost two thirds of the patients were HIV-positive (62.4%). No significant difference was found in HIV-infection prevalence when patients with ulcer diseases were compared with patients with discharges. Among the patients with gonorrhoea a prevalence of penicillinase-producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae of 53% was found. It is concluded that a plan for the management of STDs is urgently needed as it is of paramount importance to combat STDs in order to prevent the spread of HIV-infection.
authors.affiliation: Kamuzu Central Hospital, Lilongwe, Malawi.
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Kristensen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008295:Malawi / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*