Sexual behaviours, knowledge and attitudes regarding safe sex, and prevalence of non‐viral sexually transmitted infections among attendees of youth clinics in St. Petersburg, Russia

Abstract

Background Adolescents and young adults are at increased risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Knowledge of STI prevalence and risk factors are essential tools to elaborate preventive strategies. However, internationally reported studies on epidemiology of STIs among the youth in Russia are mainly lacking. Objectives To ascertain sexual behaviours, knowledge and attitudes about safe sex and prevalence and correlates with STIs in attendees of youth clinics in St. Petersburg, Russia. Methods A total of 301 women and 131 men, who self‐referred for STI testing, completed a questionnaire and were screened for Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Mycoplasma genitalium, and Trichomonas vaginalis using nucleic acid amplification tests. Results The overall STI prevalence was 16.9%, and similar in the female patients and male patients (15.6% and 19.8% respectively). C. trachomatis, N. gonorrhoeae, M. genitalium and T. vaginalis were detected in 13%, 2.5%, 4.6% and 1.2% of the attendees respectively. The men displayed riskier sexual behaviours and worse knowledge and attitudes regarding safe sex compared to the women, with the most distinguishing features being younger age at first intercourse (P < 0.0005), higher numbers of sex partners during lifetime (P = 0.001) and latest 6 months (P < 0.0005), more frequently consuming alcohol (P < 0.0005), poorer knowledge of STI/HIV prevention measures (P < 0.0005), and less positive attitudes towards safe sex (P = 0.001). However, no significant predictors of STI positivity were found in the men. In the women, the strongest predictors of STI positivity were young age (15–19 years) and multiple sex partners (≥2) during latest 6 months. Conclusions The overall prevalence of STIs among users of STI services at youth clinics in St. Petersburg was high. Comprehensive epidemiological data on STI prevalence and sexual behaviour correlates are necessary to initiate new and strengthen existing STI prevention programmes for the youth, in Russia as well as in many other settings.

Prevalence of and Risk Factors for Sexually Transmitted Infections among Korean Adolescents under Probation

“…Some studies have suggested that mycoplasma and ureaplasma can contribute to genitourinary infection and infertility ( 13 14 15 16 17 18 ). However, studies have only investigated the prevalence of Mycoplasma genitalium in adolescents ( 19 20 ). Therefore, we investigated the prevalence of Mycoplasma hominis , M. genitalium , Ureaplasma parvum , and Ureaplasma urealyticum .…”

Current concepts of genetic variability of genital mycoplasmas and their role in the development of inflammatory diseases of the urogenital system

“…В ходе исследования L. Manhart и соавт. (2007) пришли к выводу, что выявляемость M. genitalium выше у подростков негроидной расы, а также лиц, ведущих активную сексуальную жизнь [25][26][27]. первые данные об этиологической роли M. genitalium в развитии воспалительного процесса в цервикальном канале были опубликованы в 1997 г. японскими учеными M. uno и соавт., обнаружившими данный микроорганизм у 5 из 57 женщин с цервицитом, при этом ни у одной из 79 здоровых женщин он не был выявлен [28].…”

Detecção de Mycoplasma hominis, M. genitalium e M. penetrans no trato urogenital feminino e a sua relação com polimorfismos genéticos e expressão de citocinas em mulheres atendidas no município de Vitória da Conquista - BA.

“…Por se tratar de um critério de exclusão, indivíduos portadores do vírus não participaram da amostragem do presente estudo. Apesar de ser isolado em indivíduos homossexuais HIV negativos, a maioria dos achados foi relacionada a indivíduos infectados pelo vírus do HIV (CORDOVA; CUNHA, 2000;CUNHA, 2002;HUSSAIN et al, 1999 (BELKUM et al, 2001;DESSÌ et al, 2005;FRAGA et al, 2012;KOCH et al, 1997;SHIPITSYNA et al, 2013 A diferença encontrada nos valores de detecção deve-se às características das populações estudadas bem como da metodologia aplicada. É consenso entre os diferentes pesquisadores (ABELE-HORN et al, 1996;AMIRMOZAFARI et al, 2009;BÉBÉAR et al, 1997) que as técnicas de biologia molecular como a PCR convencional e a qPCR são mais sensíveis do que o isolamento de microrganismos fastidiosos como micoplasmas (AMIRMOZAFARI et al, 2009;SONAWANE;TRIPATHI, 2013).…”