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. 2024 Dec 2;12(12):2479.
doi: 10.3390/microorganisms12122479.

Screening for STIs: Results of a Health-Promotion Programme in a Portuguese University

Joana M Oliveira  1   2   3 , Ana Helena Martins  2 , Daniela Veiga  4 , Célia Lavaredas  5 , António Queirós  5 , Ana Miguel Matos  1   2   4
Affiliations

Screening for STIs: Results of a Health-Promotion Programme in a Portuguese University

Joana M Oliveira et al. Microorganisms. .

Abstract

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) are an important and growing public health concern. Implementation of screening programmes and awareness campaigns are crucial to mitigate this problem. A university in the central region of Portugal has devised a health-promotion programme, named Protection+, specifically directed towards the sexual health of the university community. The present study aimed to evaluate the results of the different actions undertaken as part of the health-promotion programme during the 2023-2024 academic year. Chlamydia, gonorrhoea, trichomoniasis and infection with Mycoplasma genitalium were assessed through real-time polymerase chain reaction protocols. Syphilis, infection with HIV, HBV and HCV were assessed through immunological assays. The adherence to the health-promotion programme after the awareness campaigns was also evaluated. STIs have been diagnosed in 13.7% of the 475 screened participants. Chlamydia was the STI most frequently diagnosed (8.4%), followed by infection with M. genitalium (2.3%), T. pallidum (2.0%) and N. gonorrhoeae (1.1%). HIV, HBV and HCV were diagnosed in a residual number of cases, and T. vaginalis was not detected in any of the screened participants. At the time of diagnosis, more than half of the infected patients were asymptomatic. After the implementation of awareness campaigns, an increase in the adherence to STI screening was observed, with the expected simultaneous increase in STI diagnoses. The high prevalence of STIs, particularly chlamydia, in the university population, along with the asymptomatic nature of these infections, demonstrated the importance of STI screenings and the implementation of campaigns that raise awareness on the prevention and consequences of untreated STIs.

Keywords: Mycoplasma genitalium; STI; chlamydia; gonorrhoea; syphilis; university.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Frequency of detection of (a) STIs and (b) STIs and others sexually transmitted microorganisms.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Distribution of STIs according to age group and gender.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Prevalence of STIs according to gender.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Prevalence of commensal microorganisms according to gender.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Prevalence of co-detection of multiple agents according to gender.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Frequency of detection of HAV-specific antibodies by gender.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Evolution of the number of participants and STI cases during the academic year.
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