Design of a community-based study of sexually transmitted infections/HIV and infertility in an urban area of northern Tanzania.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to describe the design of a community-based study of sexually transmitted infections (STIs)/HIV and infertility in northern Tanzania.


METHODS
Households were selected using a 2-stage sampling design. Eligible women and their partners were interviewed before samples were collected for STIs/HIV detection. Posttest counseling and treatment for STIs and infertility were provided.


RESULTS
A total of 2019 women and 794 male partners were interviewed. Over 70% of interviewed women and men provided blood and urine samples. Individuals providing blood and urine samples had high-risk profiles for STIs/HIV when compared with others who did not provide these samples. Although the study results may be affected by selection bias, risk factors for STIs/HIV were similar to those in other studies supporting the generalizability of the findings.


CONCLUSIONS
It is feasible to conduct a community-based survey, including collection of biomarkers and measurement of infertility, in this urban setting.
Larsen
Ulla
U
Department of Sociology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA. ularsen@socy.umd.edu
Mlay
Joseph
J
Aboud
Said
S
Ballard
Ronald
R
Sam
Noel E
NE
Shao
John F
JF
Kapiga
Saidi H
SH
D000328:Adult; D003153:Community Health Services; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000652:urine; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012107:Research Design; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000652:urine; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013636:Tanzania / Q000453:epidemiology; D019037:Urban Health Services