title: The aetiology of vaginal symptoms in rural Haiti.
abstract: Vaginal symptoms are a common chief complaint amongst women visiting outpatient clinics in rural Haiti. A systematic sample of 206 consecutive women over age 18 with gynaecological symptoms underwent gynaecologic examination and laboratory testing for chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis, HIV infection, trichomoniasis, candidiasis, and bacterial vaginosis. Among 206 women, 174 (84%) presented with vaginal discharge, 165 (80%) with vaginal itching, 123 (60%) with vaginal pain or dysuria, and 18 (9%) with non-traumatic vaginal sores or boils. Laboratory results were positive forChlamydia trachomatisin 5.4% (11/203), syphilis in 3.5% (7/202), HIV in 1.0% (2/200), andNeisseria gonorrhoeaein 1.0% (2/203). Among those that had microscopy, hyphae suggestive of candidiasis were visualized in 2.2% (1/45) and no cases of trichomoniasis were diagnosed 0% (0/45). Bacterial vaginosis was diagnosed in 28.3% (13/46). The prevalence of chlamydia was 4.9 (95% CI: 1.3-17.7) times greater among those 25 years of age and under (10.8%) than those older (2.3%). Chlamydia and bacterial vaginosis were the most common sexually transmitted infection and vaginal condition, respectively, in this study of rural Haitian adult women. The higher risk of chlamydia in younger women suggests education and screening programmes in young women should be considered.
authors.affiliation: University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA ccbristow@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Claire C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Bristow
authors.affiliation: Dr. Henri Gerard Desgranges Foundation, Petit Goave, Haiti.
authors.forename: Tania
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Desgrottes
authors.affiliation: Dr. Henri Gerard Desgranges Foundation, Petit Goave, Haiti.
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cutler
authors.affiliation: University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cutler
authors.affiliation: Dr. Henri Gerard Desgranges Foundation, Petit Goave, Haiti.
authors.forename: Karthika
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Devarajan
authors.affiliation: Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA Les Centres GHESKIO, Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
authors.forename: Oksana
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ocheretina
authors.affiliation: Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA Les Centres GHESKIO, Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
authors.forename: Jean William
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Pape
authors.affiliation: University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Jeffrey D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Klausner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006205:Haiti / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012424:Rural Population; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D014245:Trichomonas Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D014621:Vagina / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000821:virology; D019522:Vaginal Discharge / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D014627:Vaginitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D016585:Vaginosis, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Haiti; Women; sexually transmitted infections; vaginal symptoms; vaginitis