title: [Analysis on the epidemiology of syphilis in Guangdong province from 1995 - 1999 and the strategy for syphilis control].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the epidemiologic characteristics of syphilis in Guangdong province based on the data from 1995 - 1999 in the province and to provide reference for further control of the disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Registered cases of syphilis were collected in every city/county and the data was analyzed epidemiologically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The incidence rate of syphilis in Guangdong province increased rapidly the past five years, went up from 1.81 per 100 thousand residents in 1995 to 15.17 per 100 thousand residents in 1999 with an average increase as high as 133.37%. The proportion of syphilis in the eight-reportable STD also increased annually with an average annual increase rate of 125.40%. Among the cases, primary cases were dominant accounting for 91.02%. Most patients were males with 20 - 29 year olds accounted for the majority. As for education level, the majority of the patients were middle school graduates. The most popular way of transmission was through extra-marrital sexual contact which accounted for 77.31%. Syphilis patients were mainly seen in coastal cities such as Guangzhou and Shenzhen.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on the epidemiologic feature of syphilis in Guangdong, following measures should be taken in order to control the disease: to enhance the STD knowledge through education, to promote the widely use of condoms and to standardize the diagnosis and treatment of syphilis.
authors.affiliation: Guangdong STD Center, Guangzhou 510500, China.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zheng
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013587:Syphilis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D013997:Time Factors