Low prevalence of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections in young women attending a youth counselling service in Maputo, Mozambique.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in a group of young women attending the Adolescent and Youth Friendly Service, in Maputo, Mozambique, and to evaluate their level of knowledge, practices and attitudes about STI.


METHODS
A total of 445 women voluntarily participated in the study and filled in a self-administered knowledge, practices and attitudes (KAP) questionnaire; 435 of them underwent a laboratory examination for vaginosis, candidiasis, trichomoniasis, gonorrhoea, chlamydiosis, syphilis and HIV infection.


RESULTS
Women had a high level of awareness and knowledge of STI and HIV. Candidiasis was the most prevalent reproductive tract infection (36%), followed by vaginosis (13%) and trichomoniasis (7.6%), and sexually transmitted diseases. HIV seroprevalence was 4%; 42% were negative in all tests.


CONCLUSIONS
The low prevalence of STI and HIV may be related in part to the high level of awareness registered in the group.
Melo
Josefa
J
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University E. Mondlane, Maputo, Mozambique.
Folgosa
Elena
E
Manjate
Delfina
D
Osman
Nafissa
N
Francois
Isabelle
I
Temmerman
Marleen
M
Cappuccinelli
Piero
P
Colombo
Mauro M
MM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D003376:Counseling; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D009073:Mozambique / Q000453:epidemiology; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016387:Women's Health