TITLE:
Women and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Africa
AUTHORS:
Gita Ramjee, Nathlee S. Abbai, Sarita Naidoo
KEYWORDS:
Women, Sexually Transmitted Infections, Epidemiology, Management, Antimicrobial Resistance, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology,
Vol.5 No.7,
July
17,
2015
ABSTRACT: Despite efforts to control the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs),
these infections are still highly prevalent in the developing world, especially
in Africa where the prevalence and incidence of Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
is also very high. Unfortunately, women bear the disproportionate burden of both
STIs and HIV in this region. Early diagnosis, treatment and prevention of STIs
is therefore crucial in this population given the strong evidence that some
STIs have been shown to facilitate the transmission of HIV. This review
summarizes the epidemiology, and management of the common STIs affecting
African women, and the health complications associated with these infections in
the era of emerging antimicrobial resistance.