Abstract

CABALLERO GOMEZ, Sandra Virginia; VALENZUELA CACERES, Adriana Beatriz; ORIHUELA, Santiago Evers  and  MENDOZA TORRES, Laura Patricia. Sexually transmitted infections in childbearing age women attending at the Regional Hospital of Villa Hayes, Paraguay. Mem. Inst. Investig. Cienc. Salud [online]. 2015, vol.13, n.2, pp.30-49. ISSN 1812-9528.  https://doi.org/10.18004/Mem.iics/1812-9528/2015.013(02)39-049.

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) are among the five most frequent reasons for consultation in adults. In Paraguay there is a limited knowledge about STIs frequency especially in non pregnant women of childbearing age. Therefore, this pilot descriptive cross-sectional study analyzed the frequency of syphilis, HIV infection and associated risk factors in 100 women of childbearing age (18-48 years) non pregnant who went to the Regional Hospital of Villa Hayes. Syphilis screening was performed using the immunochromatography method and confirmation by the Test Fluorescent Treponemal Antibody Absorption. HIV infection was detected by the immunochromatographic method and the test for enzymelinked immunosorbent. An acceptable knowledge about prevention and transmission of these STIs were considered if 60% of the questions were answered correctly. A high frequency of syphilis, about 13% (CI_95%7.1-21.2%) and an association between low educational level and the presence of syphilis (p = 0.002) was observed. No positive result for HIV was found. 11% of women presented an unacceptable level of knowledge, however a high frequency of women (58%) who did not use condoms was evident, indicating lack of good practices. It is necessary to strengthen control measures and management of STIs existing in this region especially in nonpregnant women of childbearing age.

Keywords : syphilis; HIV; risk factors; knowledge; women of childbearing age.

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