title: Prevalence of sexually transmitted infections among antenatal women in Vanuatu, 1999-2000.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The epidemiology of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV in Vanuatu is poorly defined.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The goal was to determine the prevalence of laboratory-confirmed gonorrhea, chlamydia, trichomoniasis, syphilis seroreactivity, and HIV among pregnant women in Vila, Vanuatu.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional survey of 547 pregnant women attending a first-visit antenatal hospital clinic in Vila. Laboratory testing included polymerase chain reaction on tampons for chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis; testing of sera for syphilis with rapid plasmid reagin; and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for HIV.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of trichomoniasis was 27.5% (150); of chlamydia, 21.5% (117); of gonorrhea, 5.9% (32); and of syphilis, 13 (2.4%). No HIV cases were detected; 214 women (40%) had > or =1 STI. Young age and single marital status were both significantly associated with infection (P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chlamydial infection and trichomoniasis are hyperendemic among pregnant women in Vila. Young, single women are at greatest risk for infection.
authors.affiliation: School of Women's and Children's Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. e.sullivan@unsw.edu.au
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abel
authors.forename: Sepehr
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tabrizi
authors.forename: Suzanne M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Garland
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grice
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Poumerol
authors.forename: Helene
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Taleo
authors.forename: Shujun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Katimal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kaun
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: O'Leary
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kaldor
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D017533:Marital Status; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D011295:Prenatal Care; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D009514:Vanuatu / Q000453:epidemiology