Diagnosis of sexually transmitted infections is very
important considering the spread of HIV and the extensive use of highly active
antiretroviral therapy worldwide. This will assist in planning of treatment
schedule in controlling these infections. The study therefore aimed at
determining the prevalence of syphilis in HIV positive antiretroviral therapy
naive patients in Cape Coast and the associated risk factors involved in
infection. A cross-sectional study was carried out using initial HIV rapid and
confirmation tests, and then Venereal Disease Research Laboratory test with the
Ultra Rapid Test Kits for syphilis.
Demographic data, risky sexual behaviours capable of co-transmission of
both HIV and Syphilis, were also collected through the use of questionnaires.
In all, 150 HIV positive antiretroviral naive subjects were studied and 15
(10%) were positive for VDRL test, with females (6.00%) and males (4.00%), who
were mainly within the age group of 20 - 39 years. A significant number of
males (p = 0.019) and females (p = 0.015) participants were not smoking with a
fewer number of the females (p = 0.002) having multiple sexual partners. Also a
smaller number of those who were infected with the bacteria (p = 0.004) did not
support the control of sexually transmitted infection (p = 0.022). The result
showed that co-infection of Syphilis in HIV positive antiretroviral therapy
naive patients persists in the Cape Coast Metropolis, which is an indication of
prominence of STIs that require further study on a larger scale to ascertain
the extent of co-infection and to formulate policy for treatment to help minimize
the rate of infection.
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