title: Low prevalence of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections in young women attending a youth counselling service in Maputo, Mozambique.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University E. Mondlane, Maputo, Mozambique.
authors.forename: Josefa
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Melo
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Folgosa
authors.forename: Delfina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Manjate
authors.forename: Nafissa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Osman
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Francois
authors.forename: Marleen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Temmerman
authors.forename: Piero
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cappuccinelli
authors.forename: Mauro M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Colombo
mesh_terms: 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