Sexually transmitted disease prevalence and characteristics of market vendors in eastern China.
OBJECTIVE
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) have soared in China. To address the impact, we studied market stall vendors in eastern China.


OBJECTIVE
The goal was to determine STD prevalence and predictors.


METHODS
A total of 1536 randomly selected market stall vendors were interviewed and tested for STDs.


RESULTS
The prevalence of any STD was 20.1% among those reporting sexual intercourse and 5.5% among those reporting never having sexual intercourse. Among those reporting sexual intercourse, chlamydia was most common (9.4%), followed by herpes (9.3%). A total of 4.5% of those reporting never having sexual intercourse had herpes infection, but none had chlamydia. Prevalence of all STDs was higher among females, and those with low education and multiple partners. The pharmacy was the major source of health care (48.8%).


CONCLUSIONS
Generalizing from the results, targeting only STD clinic patients and persons reporting multiple partners for intervention will exclude a high proportion of those with STDs. More effective, less stigmatized sources of STD treatment should be developed.
Detels
Roger
R
Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095-1772, USA. detels@ucla.edu
Wu
Zunyou
Z
Rotheram
Mary Jane
MJ
Li
Li
L
Guan
Jihui
J
Yin
Yueping
Y
Liang
Guojun
G
Lee
Martha
M
Hu
Lihong
L
D000328:Adult; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003132:Commerce / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors