Sexually transmitted diseases in a specialized STD healthcare center: epidemiology and demographic profile from January 1999 to December 2009.
BACKGROUND
Sexually Transmitted Diseases are still considered a serious public health problem in Brazil and worldwide.


OBJECTIVE
To examine Sexually Transmitted Diseases prevalence and the sickness impact profile of STDs in a reference health center specializing in the treatment of Sexually Transmitted Diseases.


METHODS
We collected epidemiological, demographic, clinical and laboratory data from the medical records and interviews of 4,128 patients who had attended the center from January 1999 to December 2009.


RESULTS
Male patients outnumbered (76%) females (24%), Caucasians outnumbered (74.3%) those of mixed race (14.8%), blacks (10.8%) and Asians (0.1%). STD occurrence was higher in the 20-29 age group (46.2%) This population included 34.7% high school graduates, 8.7% college graduates and 0.8% illiterates. As for affective-sexual orientation, 86.5% were heterosexual, 7.8% homosexual and 5.5% bisexual. Regarding patients' sexual practices over the previous 30 days, 67.7% reported sexual intercourse with one person, 8.6% had had sex with two persons and 3.9%, with three or more people. The highest incidence of STD was condyloma acuminata, affecting 29.4% of all the patients, genital candidiasis 14.2%, and genital herpes 10.6%. Of the 44.3% who submitted to serologic testing for HIV detection 5% were positive, with a ratio of 6.8 males to 1 female.


CONCLUSIONS
STD prevalence remains high in Brazil and it is necessary to invest in early detection, prevention and treatment.
Escola Geraldo de Paula Souza Health Center, Faculty of Public Health, University of São Paulo, São PauloSP, Brazil.
Luiz Jorge
LJ
Fagundes
Elso Elias
EE
Vieira
Ana Carolina Marteline Cavalcante
AC
Moysés
Fernão Dias de
FD
Lima
Fátima Regina Borges de
FR
Morais
Natalina Lima
NL
Vizinho
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006782:Hospitals, Special; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult