Prevalence of sexually transmissible infections in adolescents treated in a family planning outpatient clinic for adolescents in the western Amazon

Abstract

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are among the most common public health problems worldwide, especially among adolescents and young adults, who account for almost 50% of all STI patients. Studies on the subject in the western Amazon are limited. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of STIs (chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, herpes simplex virus, syphilis, human immunodeficiency virus [HIV], hepatitis B, and hepatitis C) in adolescents treated at a family planning outpatient clinic in the western Amazon: Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil. A total of 196 adolescents were enrolled. During the gynecological examination, endocervical samples were collected to test for four STIs (chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, and herpes simplex virus), and blood samples were collected for the detection of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B and C. The mean age was 17.3 ± 1.5 years, the age at sexarche was 14.4 ± 1.6 years, and 54.6% of participants had their first sexual intercourse at 14 years or younger. Only 1.0% of the adolescents used condoms in all sexual relations, and 19.9% had casual partner(s) in the last year. In the evaluation of prevalence, we found that 32% of the adolescents had at least one STI, with the most prevalent being chlamydia (23%), followed by trichomoniasis (5.6%), herpes simplex (4.6%), and gonorrhea (3.1%). No positive cases of hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or HIV were detected, but 1% of the adolescents tested positive for syphilis. These indicators will support more effective health care strategies aimed at improving the quality of life of populations in this region of the western Amazon. In conclusion, our findings demonstrated high rates of STIs in the studied patients, reinforcing the need to expand epidemiological studies to implement more appropriate public policies and intervention strategies to prevent STIs in adolescents and other vulnerable populations in the western Amazon.

Current State of the Reproductive Health of Adolescent Girls and the Issues of Abnormal Uterine Bleeding as Its Component (Literature Review)

“…Adolescents are an age group with a high vulnerability to STIs due to high-risk sexual behaviour and age-specific susceptibility to STIs due to lower cervical mucus production and greater cervical ectopy [13]. Study I. P. Monteiro et al [14] found that 32% of adolescents had STIs, the most common of which were chlamydia (23%), trichomoniasis (5.6%), herpes (4.6%), and gonorrhoea (3.1%). If left untreat-ed, STIs can affect not only a woman's reproductive potential but also her overall health in the future.…”

“…Підлітки становлять вікову групу щодо високої вразливості ІПСШ через сексуальну поведінку високого ризику та вікові особливості сприйнятливі до ІПСШ внаслідок меншого продукування цервікального слизу та більшої ектопії шийки матки [13]. Дослідження I. P. Monteiro et al [14] виявило, що 32% підлітків хворіли на ІПСШ, найпоширенішими з яких були хламідіоз -23%, трихомоніаз -5,6%, герпес -4,6% та гонорея -3,1%. ІПСШ, якщо їх не лікувати, в майбутньому можуть вплинути не тільки на репродуктивний потенціал жінки, а й здоров'я в цілому.…”