title: Prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases among commercial sex workers in Singapore from 1977 to 1993: the effects of screening measures.
abstract: This paper discusses the trend of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among commercial sex workers in Singapore. Various STD control measures were introduced in Singapore since 1976 to control STDs among commercial sex workers. Under a Medical Surveillance Scheme introduced in 1976, all commercial sex workers were encouraged to undergo regular STD screening and received treatment when found to be infected. As a result, the infection rates of various STDs among commercial sex workers have declined over the years. The infection rate for gonorrhoea has declined from 9% in 1977 to 1.7% in 1993. The chlamydia infection rate declined from 8% in 1992 to 4% in 1993. The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection rate among commercial sex workers under the Medical Scheme was less than 0.1%. The STD infection rate of commercial sex workers who did not participate in the Medical Scheme was much higher than those enrolled in the Medical Scheme. Our findings indicated the effectiveness of the Medical Scheme in controlling STDs among commercial sex workers.
authors.affiliation: National Skin Centre, Singapore.
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Goh
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Chan
mesh_terms: D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000453:epidemiology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011477:Sex Work; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012846:Singapore / Q000453:epidemiology