Gender differences in the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections and genital symptoms in an urban setting in southern India.
OBJECTIVE
To examine gender differences in sexual behaviour, the prevalence of laboratory-detected sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and self-reported genital symptoms in urban Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.


METHODS
The data were based on a cross-sectional survey (n = 1649) of residents from low-income communities in Chennai. Data were collected during community-wide health camps comprising physical examinations, interviews and laboratory testing between March and June 2001.


RESULTS
The population was young, sexually active, with a low prevalence of STI. The most commonly detected STI was Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV2; 13.2%). Women had a higher prevalence of HSV2, but were more likely than men to be asymptomatic. Most of the self-reported genital symptoms could not be linked to a laboratory-detected STI. >10% of the cohort had a history of an ulcerative STI and >5% had an inflammatory STI.


CONCLUSIONS
Given a high prevalence of HSV2 in the study population, interventions targeting HSV2 transmission may be particularly relevant for this population.
Panchanadeswaran
S
S
Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. spanchan@jhsph.edu
Johnson
S C
SC
Mayer
K H
KH
Srikrishnan
A K
AK
Sivaran
S
S
Zelaya
C E
CE
Go
V F
VF
Solomon
S
S
Bentley
M E
ME
Celentano
D D
DD
D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014504:Urban Health