Friday, June 4, 2010

Sexually Transmitted Diseases Screening; Scientists at School of Public Health target sexually transmitted diseases screening

Sexually Transmitted Diseases Screening; Scientists at School of Public Health target sexually transmitted diseases screening

Anonymous. Medical Letter on the CDC & FDA. Atlanta: May 2, 2010. pg. 88

Abstract (Summary)

United States, Sexually Transmitted Diseases Screening, Chlamydia Trachomatis, Gonorrhea, Gynecology, AIDS/HIV, Infectious Disease, Opportunistic Infections, Public Health, Regulatory Actions, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Syphilis, Trichomonas Vaginitis, Trichomoniasis, Women's Health's.

Full Text

(430 words)
(c)Copyright 2010, Medical Letter on the CDC & FDA via NewsRx.com

2010 MAY 2 - ( NewsRx.com) -- A report, 'Establishment of an HIV/sexually transmitted disease programme and prevalence of infection among incarcerated men in Jamaica,' is newly published data in International Journal of STD & AIDS (see also Sexually Transmitted Diseases Screening). "The goal of this study is to describe the establishment of an HIV testing and treatment programme in the Jamaican correctional system and to estimate the prevalence of HIV/sexually transmitted disease (STD) among adult incarcerated men in this country. A demonstration project was implemented by the Jamaican Department of Correctional Services and Ministry of Health in the nation's largest correctional centre," scientists writing in the International Journal of STD & AIDS report.

"All inmates were offered HIV and syphilis testing, and a subset was offered chlamydia, gonorrhoea and trichomoniasis testing. Cross-sectional data from the project were reviewed to determine the prevalence and correlates of HIV/STD. HIV test acceptance was 63% for voluntary testers (n=1200). The prevalence of HIV was 3.3% (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.33-4.64) (n=1017) and the prevalence syphilis was 0.7% (95% CI 0.29-1.49) (n=967). Among the subset tested (n=396) the prevalence of chlamydia was 2.5% (95% CI 1.22-4.49) and for trichomoniasis it was 1.8% (95% CI 0.01-3.60), but no cases of gonorrhoea were detected (n=396). The prevalence of HIV was significantly higher at 25% (95% CI 13.64-39.60) for persons located in a separate section where individuals labelled as men who have sex with men (MSM) are separated. HIV/STD testing is important and feasible in Jamaica. A special focus should be placed on providing services to inmates labelled as MSM," wrote K. Andrinopoulos and colleagues, School of Public Health.

The researchers concluded: "Other Caribbean nations may also benefit from similar programmes."

Andrinopoulos and colleagues published their study in International Journal of STD & AIDS (Establishment of an HIV/sexually transmitted disease programme and prevalence of infection among incarcerated men in Jamaica. International Journal of STD & AIDS, 2010;21(2):114-9).

Additional information can be obtained by contacting K. Andrinopoulos, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA USA.

The publisher of the International Journal of STD & AIDS can be contacted at: Royal Society Medicine Press Ltd., 1 Wimpole Street, London W1G 0AE, England.

Keywords: City:New Orleans, State:LA, Country:United States, Sexually Transmitted Diseases Screening, Chlamydia Trachomatis, Gonorrhea, Gynecology, AIDS/HIV, Infectious Disease, Opportunistic Infections, Public Health, Regulatory Actions, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Syphilis, Trichomonas Vaginitis, Trichomoniasis, Women's Health's.

This article was prepared by Medical Letter on the CDC & FDA editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2010, Medical Letter on the CDC & FDA via NewsRx.com.

Indexing (document details)

Subjects:Sexually transmitted diseases--STD, Acquired immune deficiency syndrome--AIDS, Studies, Gonorrhea, Confidence intervals, Mens health, Womens health
Author(s):Anonymous
Document types:Expanded Reporting
Publication title:Medical Letter on the CDC & FDA. Atlanta: May 2, 2010. pg. 88
Source type:Periodical
ISSN:10782907
ProQuest document ID:2014712101
Text Word Count430
Document URL:http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=2014712101&sid=2&Fmt=3&clientId=45625&RQT=309&VName=PQD