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Sexual health
Research
Prevalence of sexually transmitted infections in female clinic attendees in Honiara, Solomon Islands
  1. M Marks1,2,
  2. H Kako3,
  3. R Butcher1,
  4. B Lauri4,
  5. E Puiahi4,
  6. R Pitakaka4,
  7. O Sokana5,
  8. G Kilua6,
  9. A Roth7,
  10. A W Solomon1,2,
  11. D C Mabey1,2
  1. 1Clinical Research Department, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
  2. 2Hospital for Tropical Diseases, University College London Hospitals NHS Trust, London, UK
  3. 3Department of STI and HIV Prevention, Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Honiara, Solomon Islands
  4. 4National Referral Hospital, Honiara, Solomon Islands
  5. 5Eye Health Department, Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Honiara, Solomon Islands
  6. 6World Health Organization Country Office, Honiara, Solomon Islands
  7. 7Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Noumea, New Caledonia
  1. Correspondence to Dr M Marks; Michael.marks{at}lshtm.ac.uk

Abstract

Objectives This study sought to determine the prevalence of common bacterial sexually transmitted infections, including Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae, in women attending clinics in the Solomon Islands.

Methods We conducted a sexual health survey among women attending three nurse-led community outpatient clinics in August 2014, to establish the prevalence of bacterial sexually transmitted infections in female clinic attenders in Honiara, Solomon Islands. Vaginal swab samples were tested for infection with C. trachomatis and N. gonorrhoeae using a commercial strand displacement amplification assay. Serum samples were tested for syphilis.

Results We enrolled 296 women, aged 16–49, attending three clinics. Knowledge of safe sexual practices was high but reported condom usage was low. The prevalence of infection with C. trachomatis was 20%. The prevalence of infection with N. gonorrhoeae and syphilis were 5.1% and 4.1%, respectively.

Conclusions Bacterial sexually transmitted infections are a major health problem in the Solomon Islands. Interventions are urgently needed.

  • chlamydia
  • sexual health
  • gonorrhoea

This is an Open Access article distributed in accordance with the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt and build upon this work, for commercial use, provided the original work is properly cited. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2014-007276

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