Sexually transmitted diseases in Nigeria. A review of the present situation

Abstract

Available data show that sexually transmitted diseases constitute great medical, social and economic problems in Nigeria. Apart from the heavy affliction of urban dwellers, there is rapid excursion of these diseases to the rural areas as well. This situation is serious enough to attract government attention so that necessary control measures may be initiated in good time in order to avert the serious consequences.

PIP: Gonorrhea is the most prevalent sexually transmitted disease (STD) in Nigeria. In fact, in 1963, WHO found Lagos to have the highest gonorrhea rate in the world. Recent surveys report gonorrhea prevalence to be as high as 28.1%. Further some studies show a clear association between gonorrhea and male and female infertility. Penicillinase producing Neisseria gonorrhea prevalence varies from 44.4% in Zaria to 80% in Ibadan. There is an increase in the prevalence of gonorrhea among girls, mostly due to sociocultural factors such as the belief that sexual intercourse with a girl who has urethritis cures the condition. Gonorrhea is not always the most common form of urethritis, however. For example, in a study in Ibadan, 61% of male urethritis cases had nonspecific urethritis. Further schistosomiasis often causes urethral symptoms like those of gonorrhea. Most women at STD clinics have vaginitis and vaginal discharge. Even though the prevalence of trichomoniasis and candidiasis are rather high (10.2-22.3% and 4.33.1% respectively), bacterial vaginosis is the leading cause of vaginitis and vaginal discharge in Nigeria. The predominant malignancy of women in Nigeria is cervical cancer which my be due to the high rates of infection of trichomoniasis and Herpes virus II. Another prevalent STD is syphilis, yet many people with the infection are asymptomatic. For example, a study reports that 10.3% of women in a prenatal clinic in Lagos tested positive for syphilis, but the physician believed only 1.5% had syphilis. Tropical venereal diseases still cause genital ulcers in Nigeria. Dermatophyte infection, genital warts, and pedicubsis pubis also occur, but scant data exist. Many people believe they have an STD and do not, yet they insist they do. This phenomenon may be a result of the common fear of infertility which results from STDs. In conclusion, the government should allocate adequate funds for health programs and research, particularly those associated with STDs.