Prevalence and predictors associated with sexually transmitted infections in patients in Southern Brazil

Abstract

Background: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are now a global public health problem with growing socioeconomic burden, not only because of the high number of people infected but also because of their consequences on sexual, reproductive, and maternal-fetal health. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of STIs and associated predictors in patients attending a referral center. Methods & Materials: A cross-sectional, descriptive, and retrospective study of 2,795 patients attending a health referral center in Southern Brazil was performed between 2012 and 2017. Results: The prevalences of condylomata acuminata, syphilis, urethral discharge syndrome, and genital herpes were 31.13%, 24.36%, 9.45%, and 5.15%, respectively. The number of genital herpes cases increased significantly during the study period. It was found that 90.41% of patients attending were heterosexual, 54.39% had more than one partner in the last 12 months, 53.80% reported not using a condom in the last year, and 31.71% reported using a condom irregularly. Conclusion: The population served had a high prevalence of STIs, especially condylomata. The predictors associated with STIs were male sex, heterosexuality, single status, younger than 39 years, sexual initiation between the ages of 13 and 19 years, and not using condoms on a regular basis. Knowledge of the characteristics of the affected population is useful in determining measures of prevention and control of STIs.