Sexually transmitted infections among male highway coach drivers in Myanmar.
A cross sectional descriptive study was conducted from February 2008 to December 2009 at the largest Highway Terminal, Yangon, Myanmar to determine the prevalence of curable STIs (syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydial infections, and trichomoniasis), to find out the associated factors for STIs, and to determine the antibiotic susceptibility pattern of gonococcal infection among highway drivers. Urine and blood specimens were collected from 601 male highway coach drivers after an interview about their behavior. Standard laboratory tests were carried out to detect STIs. Multivariate analysis was used to ascertain potential risk factors for STIs. The prevalence rates of syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydial infections, and trichomoniasis were 4.8, 4.3, 5.7, and 9.8%, respectively. One hundred and two (17.0%) were infected with at least one of the tested four STIs, and 34 (5.7%) had STI co-infections (2STIs). Those who had multiple sexual contacts were likely to be infected with at least one STI, and those who had a history of inconsistent condom use within past two weeks and multiple sexual contacts were more likely to have STI co-infections (p < 0.05). Antimicrobial susceptibility of 21 Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates showed that 85.7% were susceptible to azithromycin, 80.9% to spectinomycin, 66.7% to cefixime, 61.9% to ceftriaxone, and 38.1% to ciprofloxacin. The high prevalence of STIs in this study and the decreased susceptibility of Neisseria gonorrhoeae to cephalosporin and fluoroquinolone highlighted the role of periodic screening in early diagnosis and effective treatment of STIs among high-risk populations.
Bacteriology Research Division, Department of Medical Research (Lower Myanmar), Ministry of Health, Myanmar. drwahwahaung@gmail.com
Wah Wah
WW
Aung
Myo
M
Thant
Khin Thet
KT
Wai
Mya Mya
MM
Aye
Phyu Win
PW
Ei
Thuzar
T
Myint
Moe
M
Thidar
D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D060085:Coinfection / Q000453:epidemiology; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial / Q000187:drug effects; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018986:Motor Vehicles; D002052:Myanmar / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013587:Syphilis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D014245:Trichomonas Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology