TY - JOUR
T1 - Factors associated with syphilis infection
T2 - A cross-sectional survey among outpatients in Asikuma Odoben Brakwa District, Ghana
AU - Banong-Le, Martin
AU - Ofosu, Samuel Kwabena
AU - Anto, Francis
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 The Author(s).
PY - 2019/4/29
Y1 - 2019/4/29
N2 - Background: Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. The disease affects all ages and both sexes but more prevalent among the sexually active age group of 15-49 years. The purpose of the current study was to determine the prevalence and factors associated with syphilis infection among outpatients 15-49 years in the Asikuma Odoben Brakwa District of Ghana where high levels of infection were earlier reported among antenatal women. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in 13 randomly selected health facilities. Blood samples were collected and tested for syphilis infection and a questionnaire administered to determine factors associated with the disease. Results: A total 277 patients aged 15-49 years participated in the study. The overall prevalence of syphilis infection was 3.2% (9/277), with 5.7% (6/105) and 1.7% (3/172) among males and females respectively. Significant factors associated with syphilis infection included sub-district of residence, (χ 2 (4) = 31.20, p < 0.001) and history of coerced sexual intercourse (χ 2 (1) =7.49, p = 0.006). Conclusions: The prevalence of syphilis infection was high among male patients who lived in rural areas. Having a history of coerced sexual intercourse was a strong predictor for syphilis infection. Access to sexually transmitted infection control interventions in rural communities including health education may help control the disease.
AB - Background: Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. The disease affects all ages and both sexes but more prevalent among the sexually active age group of 15-49 years. The purpose of the current study was to determine the prevalence and factors associated with syphilis infection among outpatients 15-49 years in the Asikuma Odoben Brakwa District of Ghana where high levels of infection were earlier reported among antenatal women. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in 13 randomly selected health facilities. Blood samples were collected and tested for syphilis infection and a questionnaire administered to determine factors associated with the disease. Results: A total 277 patients aged 15-49 years participated in the study. The overall prevalence of syphilis infection was 3.2% (9/277), with 5.7% (6/105) and 1.7% (3/172) among males and females respectively. Significant factors associated with syphilis infection included sub-district of residence, (χ 2 (4) = 31.20, p < 0.001) and history of coerced sexual intercourse (χ 2 (1) =7.49, p = 0.006). Conclusions: The prevalence of syphilis infection was high among male patients who lived in rural areas. Having a history of coerced sexual intercourse was a strong predictor for syphilis infection. Access to sexually transmitted infection control interventions in rural communities including health education may help control the disease.
KW - Coerced sexual intercourse
KW - Sexually transmitted infection
KW - Syphilis
KW - Treponema pallidum
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85065244885&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1186/s12879-019-3967-6
DO - 10.1186/s12879-019-3967-6
M3 - Article
C2 - 31035953
AN - SCOPUS:85065244885
SN - 1471-2334
VL - 19
JO - BMC Infectious Diseases
JF - BMC Infectious Diseases
IS - 1
M1 - 360
ER -