Email this article 
Hide
Show all
Original Research
Sexually transmitted infections, the silent partner in HIV-infected women in Zimbabwe
Submitted: 12 March 2018 | Published: 23 January 2019
About the author(s)
Sara Lowe, AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Parirenyatwa Centre of Excellence, Parirenyatwa Hospital, Zimbabwe; and, Department of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, ZimbabweTinashe Mudzviti, Newlands Clinic, Zimbabwe; and School of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe
Ardele Mandiriri, Newlands Clinic, Zimbabwe
Tinei Shamu, Newlands Clinic, Zimbabwe
Petronella Mudhokwani, Newlands Clinic, Zimbabwe
Cleophas Chimbetete, Newlands Clinic, Zimbabwe
Ruedi Luethy, Newlands Clinic, Zimbabwe
Margaret Pascoe, Newlands Clinic, Zimbabwe
Abstract
Background: Coinfection rates of HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are not widely reported in Zimbabwe and no local guidelines regarding the screening of STIs in people living with HIV exist.
Objectives: This cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors for STI coinfection in a cohort of HIV-infected women.
Methods: Between January and June 2016, 385 HIV-infected women presenting for routine cervical cancer screening were tested for five STIs: Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), Chlamydia trachomatis(CT), Trichomonas vaginalis (TV), Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) type 2 and Treponema pallidum (TP). Socio-demographic characteristics and sexual history were recorded. Multiple logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with the diagnosis of non-viral STIs.
Results: Two hundred and thirty-three participants (60.5%) had a confirmed positive result for at least one STI: HSV 2 prevalence 52.5%, TV 8.1%, CT 2.1%, NG 1.8% and TP 11.4%. Eighty-seven per cent of the women were asymptomatic for any STI; 62.3% of women with a non-viral STI were asymptomatic. Women who had attended tertiary education were 90% less likely to have a non-viral STI (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 0.10, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.03–0.39, p < 0.01). Having more than three lifetime sexual partners was a significant predictor for a non-viral STI diagnosis (aOR: 3.3, 95% CI: 1.5–7.2, p < 0.01).
Conclusion: A high prevalence of predominantly asymptomatic STIs is reported in a cohort of HIV-infected women. Syndromic management results in underdiagnosis of asymptomatic patients. More than three lifetime sexual partners and less formal education are risk factors for coinfection with non-viral STI. High-risk women should be screened using aetiological methods.
Keywords
Metrics
Total abstract views: 5851Total article views: 8431
Crossref Citations
1. Medical male circumcision and HIV prevention among men in Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa: A propensity score analysis
Lateef Amusa, Temesgen Zewotir, Delia North, Ayesha B.M. Kharsany, Lara Lewis
Scientific African vol: 11 first page: e00683 year: 2021
doi: 10.1016/j.sciaf.2020.e00683
2. Cervical cancer screening outcomes in Zambia, 2010–19: a cohort study
Jake M Pry, Albert Manasyan, Sharon Kapambwe, Katayoun Taghavi, Miquel Duran-Frigola, Mulindi Mwanahamuntu, Izukanji Sikazwe, Jane Matambo, Jack Mubita, Kennedy Lishimpi, Kennedy Malama, Carolyn Bolton Moore
The Lancet Global Health vol: 9 issue: 6 first page: e832 year: 2021
doi: 10.1016/S2214-109X(21)00062-0
3. Association of medical male circumcision and sexually transmitted infections in a population-based study using targeted maximum likelihood estimation
Lateef Amusa, Temesgen Zewotir, Delia North, Ayesha B. M. Kharsany, Lara Lewis
BMC Public Health vol: 21 issue: 1 year: 2021
doi: 10.1186/s12889-021-11705-9
4. High prevalence of sexually transmitted infections and risk factors among HIV-positive individuals in Yunnan, China
Wei Tu, Yu-Ye Li, Yi-Qun Kuang, Rong-Hui Xie, Xing-Qi Dong, Dan Zhang, Yan-Ling Ma, Wan-Yue Zhang, Lin Lu
European Journal of Medical Research vol: 27 issue: 1 year: 2022
doi: 10.1186/s40001-022-00635-w
5. Prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), associations with sociodemographic and behavioural factors, and assessment of the syndromic management of vaginal discharge in women with urogenital complaints in Mozambique
Alice Manjate, Gladys Sergon, Darlenne Kenga, Daniel Golparian, Yuriy Tyulenev, Osvaldo Loquilha, Fabião Mausse, Alexander Guschin, José Carlos Langa, Alfeu Passanduca, Jahit Sacarlal, Magnus Unemo
Frontiers in Reproductive Health vol: 6 year: 2024
doi: 10.3389/frph.2024.1323926
6. Developing target product profiles for Neisseria gonorrhoeae diagnostics in the context of antimicrobial resistance: An expert consensus
Cecilia Ferreyra, Jennifer Osborn, Francis Moussy, Emilie Alirol, Monica Lahra, David Whiley, William Shafer, Magnus Unemo, Jeffrey Klausner, Cassandra Kelly Cirino, Teodora Wi, Cedric Yansouni
PLOS ONE vol: 15 issue: 9 first page: e0237424 year: 2020
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0237424
7. Antimicrobial resistance and heterogeneity of Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolated from patients attending sexually transmitted infection clinics in Lusaka, Zambia
Kelvin Lutambo Sarenje, Marco van Zwetselaar, Happiness Kumburu, Tolbert Sonda, Blandina Mmbaga, Owen Ngalamika, Margaret C. Maimbolwa, Amon Siame, Sody Munsaka, Geoffrey Kwenda
BMC Genomics vol: 25 issue: 1 year: 2024
doi: 10.1186/s12864-024-10155-y
8. Urban-rural disparity in sociodemographic characteristics and sexual behaviors of HIV-positive adolescent girls and young women and their perspectives on their male sexual partners: A cross-sectional study in Zimbabwe
Ibou Thior, Elizabeth Rowley, Webster Mavhu, Natalie Kruse-Levy, Lyn Messner, Zachariah J. Falconer-Stout, Owen Mugurungi, Getrude Ncube, Suzanne Leclerc-Madlala, Nelly Rwamba Mugo
PLOS ONE vol: 15 issue: 4 first page: e0230823 year: 2020
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0230823
9. Investigating causes of the high prevalence of sexually transmitted infections in Du Noon
Azhaar B.F. Dookhith, Adil Razack, Abdul-Aziez Isaacs
South African Family Practice vol: 66 issue: 1 year: 2024
doi: 10.4102/safp.v66i1.5794
10. Antimicrobial resistance of Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolated from patients attending sexually transmitted infection clinics in Urban Hospitals, Lusaka, Zambia
Kelvin L. Sarenje, Owen Ngalamika, Margaret C. Maimbolwa, Amon Siame, Sody M. Munsaka, Geoffrey Kwenda
BMC Infectious Diseases vol: 22 issue: 1 year: 2022
doi: 10.1186/s12879-022-07674-y
11. Traditional ecological knowledge and practices in Zimbabwe: medicinal ethnobotany and ethnozoology among communities in Chipinge district
Justice Muvengwi, Alfred Maroyi
Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine vol: 21 issue: 1 year: 2025
doi: 10.1186/s13002-025-00809-w