Screening for sexually transmitted infections at a DeAddictions service in south India.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the lifetime prevalence of four sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and to identify correlates of these infections among patients seeking care for a substance use disorder at a specialized DeAddictions Unit in southern India.


METHODS
Consecutive inpatients (n=361; 98% male; M age=36.7 years) admitted to DeAddictions Unit of the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences in Bangalore, India, participated in a structured interview to obtain demographic, psychiatric, sexual behavior, and substance use data; each patient also provided a blood sample for serologic testing for HIV, chlamydia, syphilis, and hepatitis B.


RESULTS
One-quarter of all patients tested positive for at least one STI. Lifetime seroprevalence rates were 12.9% for syphilis, 10.3% for chlamydia, 3.1% for hepatitis B, and 1.1% for HIV. Analyses did not reveal any consistent pattern of associations between STI status and sociodemographic, psychiatric, and sexual behavioral characteristics.


CONCLUSIONS
All patients should receive a comprehensive sexual assessment during standard care; for those patients who report risky sexual practices, we recommend voluntary counseling and testing for STIs. Although we do not recommend universal testing for STIs at this time, this should be revisited based upon national surveillance data.
Carey
Michael P
MP
Center for Health and Behavior, Syracuse University, NY 13244-2340, USA. mpcarey@syr.edu
Ravi
V
V
Chandra
Prabha S
PS
Desai
Anita
A
Neal
Dan J
DJ
D000328:Adult; D001800:Blood Specimen Collection / Q000379:methods; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D009790:Occupations; D015995:Prevalence; D011477:Sex Work / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000534:rehabilitation