Sexually Transmitted Infections in Travelers: Implications for Prevention and Control

Abstract

Sexually transmissible diseases (STDs), the most common notifiable infectious conditions, remain major threats to reproductive and public health worldwide. Travelers are particularly vulnerable to STDs, because of voluntary or involuntary sexual behavior while abroad, and are significant vectors who introduce new pathogens and resistant strains to unaffected parts of the world. This article outlines some key issues that travel medicine specialists and other clinicians should revisit when providing services to travelers. We discuss obstacles to promoting sexual health, including the diversity of the target group, unanticipated opportunities for sexual risk, ambivalent cooperation by the travel and tourism industries, poorly developed travel health sectors, illegal migration and sex tourism, and lack of research about the association between travel and STDs. We also outlined some programmatic aspects of public health that should be identified and addressed for the promotion of sexual health among travelers.

Factors influencing sexual behaviour between tourists and tourism employees: A systematic review

“…A study exploring STIs in travellers stated that HIV related to travelling was the most common STI. While in regions like Asia and Africa, migrant labours, sex workers and truck drivers travelling long distance maintain the HIV epidemic, in Europe there have been increasing numbers of new HIV cases over the years attributable mostly to travel [23]. Although this paper also covers the role of power in sexual behaviour of tourists and tourism workers, no other studies were found that discussed this factor.…”

“…In regards to risk taking behaviour of travellers, another study suggested that travellers taking sexual risk were more likely to not practise safe sex regardless of the place of destination [23]. The latter study also reported that 5-50% of travellers travelling short term engage in casual sex [23].…”

“…A cross-sectional study involving Australian tourists to Thailand seeking pre-travel counselling stated that around 66% of the travellers had planned and were hopeful of having sexual relations while abroad [22]. In regards to risk taking behaviour of travellers, another study suggested that travellers taking sexual risk were more likely to not practise safe sex regardless of the place of destination [23]. The latter study also reported that 5-50% of travellers travelling short term engage in casual sex [23].…”

“…Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) are a major threat to global public health [1]. A highly vulnerable population in acquiring and spreading STIs are tourists.…”

“…The term 'tourism worker' refers to a wide-range of people providing services in the tourism industry. Tourists, who willingly participate in sexual intercourse while travelling, are not only highly prone to get infected with STIs [3] but they may introduce infections to previously unaffected parts of the world [1]. Tourists are more likely to engage in casual sexual relationships while travelling abroad because of the opportunity to escape from their society's idea of acceptable behaviour [4].…”