Incidence and risk factors for sexually transmitted infections among women in an Alabama HIV clinic

AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 2004 Jun;20(6):577-83. doi: 10.1089/0889222041217437.

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to assess the prevalence and incidence of curable sexually transmitted infections (STI), i.e., gonorrhea, chlamydial infection, or trichomoniasis, in a cohort of HIV-infected women. The study population was derived from women seeking primary care at an outpatient university HIV clinic who were participants in a women's natural history study. Enrollees (n = 225) were predominantly African-American, heterosexually infected, with mean age 35 years. Mean entry CD4+ T cell count was 405 cells/mm3. Over 6% were STI positive at initial screening. Subsequently, the combined curable STI incidence was 4.82/1000 woman-months over a median of 33 months of observation. Of 36 incident STIs, trichomoniasis was most common (n = 32). Predictors for acquisition of a curable STI included absenteeism at scheduled clinic appointments, RR = 1.99 (1.28, 3.08), and a higher CD4+ T cell count, RR = 1.15 (1.0028, 1.3115) for 100 cells. Interventions to prevent curable STI in HIV-infected women are warranted in primary care settings.

MeSH terms

  • Absenteeism
  • Adult
  • Alabama / epidemiology
  • CD4 Lymphocyte Count
  • Chlamydia Infections / complications
  • Chlamydia Infections / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Gonorrhea / complications
  • Gonorrhea / epidemiology
  • HIV Infections / complications*
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Prevalence
  • Risk Factors
  • Sexually Transmitted Diseases / complications
  • Sexually Transmitted Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Trichomonas Infections / complications
  • Trichomonas Infections / epidemiology