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. 2022 Aug;33(9):856-863.
doi: 10.1177/09564624221110992. Epub 2022 Jun 30.

STI prevalence, incidence, and partner notification among women in a periconception HIV prevention program in Uganda

Pooja Chitneni  1   2   3 , Winnie Muyindike  4 , Mwebesa Bosco Bwana  4 , Moran Owembabazi  4 , Kasey O'Neil  1   5 , Paul Kato Kalyebara  4 , Bethany Hedt-Gauthier  6 , David R Bangsberg  7 , Jeanne M Marrazzo  8 , Angela Kaida  9 , Jessica E Haberer  3   4   10 , Lynn T Matthews  8
Affiliations

STI prevalence, incidence, and partner notification among women in a periconception HIV prevention program in Uganda

Pooja Chitneni et al. Int J STD AIDS. 2022 Aug.

Abstract

Background: We provided sexually transmitted infection (STI) screening and facilitated partner notification and treatment among women participating in a periconception HIV prevention program in southwestern Uganda to understand follow-up STI incidence.

Methods: Women at-risk for HIV exposure while planning for pregnancy completed laboratory screening for chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, and syphilis at enrollment and 6 months of follow-up and/or incident pregnancy; facilitated partner notification and treatment were offered for those with positive tests. We performed a logistic regression to determine correlates of follow-up STI.

Results: Ninety-four participants completed enrollment STI screening with a median age of 29 (IQR 26-34); 23 (24%) had ≥1 STI. Of the 23 participants with enrollment STI(s), all completed treatment and 19 (83%) returned for follow-up; 18 (78%) reported delivering partner notification cards and discussing STIs with partner(s), and 14 (61%) reported all partners received STI treatment. Of the 81 (86%) who successfully completed follow-up STI screening, 17 (21%) had ≥1 STI. The STI incidence rate was 29.0 per 100 person-years. In univariable regression analysis, enrollment STI, younger age, less education, and alcohol consumption were all significantly associated with follow-up STI.

Conclusions: We demonstrated high enrollment and follow-up STI rates and moderate participant-reported partner treatment among women planning for pregnancy in Uganda despite partner notification and treatment. Novel STI partner notification and treatment interventions are needed to decrease the STI burden, especially among women planning for and with pregnancy.

Keywords: Africa; chlamydia (Chlamydia trachomatis); epidemiology; gonorrhea (Neisseria gonorrhoeae); syphilis (Treponema pallidum).

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of conflicting interests

The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Author’s note

Conflicts of Interest and Source of Funding: Cepheid Inc. provided GeneXpert cartridge donation and Gilead Sciences provided pre-exposure prophylaxis (TDF/FTC PrEP).

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
STI care cascade among women diagnosed with enrollment STI, at-risk for HIV acquisition while planning for pregnancy and participating in a periconception HIV prevention program.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Schematic of prevalent, enrollment STI and outcomes of follow-up STI screening among women at-risk for HIV acquisition while planning for pregnancy and participating in a periconception HIV prevention program.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Enrollment and follow-up STI among women at-risk for HIV acquisition while planning for pregnancy and participating in a periconception HIV prevention program. *One participant had STI coinfection with chlamydia and gonorrhea at follow-up testing.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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