National study of reproductive tract infections among high risk groups of Lahore and Karachi.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the prevalence of reproductive tract infections (RTIs) among the Female Sex Workers (FSWs), Male Sex Workers (MSWs), Injecting Drug Users (IDUs) and truck drivers.


METHODS
Cross-sectional.


METHODS
Lahore and Karachi, from March to August, 2004.


METHODS
Four hundred FSWs, 400 MSWs, 200 eunuchs, 400 IDUs and 400 truck drivers were interviewed and examined. Biological testing included PCR and ELISA.


RESULTS
The mean prevalence of syphilis was 17.7% (95% CI: 15.1-20.3%). Genital gonorrhoea was found among 0.8-12.3% of subjects with mean of 4.5% (95% CI: 0.8-5.2%). Genital chlamydia was seen in 0.2-11% individuals with mean of 2.6% (95% CI: 2.1-3.1%). Trichomonas was present in 19.3% FSWs of Lahore and 5.52% FSWs of Karachi. Only 0.8% truckers in Lahore had trichomonas. In Lahore, 47.6% FSWs and in Karachi, 27.4% FSWs were positive for bacterial vaginosis. A vast majority of IDUs, 91.8% in Lahore and 87% in Karachi were hepatitis C positive.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of syphilis is very high among all high-risk groups; particularly so among eunuchs (60.2% in Karachi and 32.3% in Lahore). Such a high levels of RTIs indicate a serious threat for HIV epidemic because of socially transmitted infection.
Rehan
N
N
The Research Associates, Lahore. nrehan@yahoo.com
Bokhari
Asma
A
Nizamani
Naseer M
NM
Jackson
Denis
D
Naqvi
Hassan Raza
HR
Qayyum
Kanwal
K
Mansoor
Samina
S
Muzaffar
Rana
R
D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology; D005832:Genital Diseases, Male / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013587:Syphilis / Q000453:epidemiology; D014245:Trichomonas Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology; D016585:Vaginosis, Bacterial / Q000453:epidemiology