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Decreasing incidence of PID in Amsterdam
R A Coutinho1, A J Rijsdijk, J A van den Hoek
1Municipal Health Service, Department of Public Health and Environment, Amsterdam.
Insights
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) incidence in Amsterdam declined significantly from 1987 to 1990. This decrease in PID rates may be linked to public health awareness campaigns regarding HIV and AIDS.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is a significant public health concern.
- Understanding trends in PID incidence is crucial for effective prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the incidence of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in Amsterdam between 1983 and 1990.
- To identify potential factors influencing observed trends in PID rates.
Main Methods:
- Data collected from 30 general practices representing 11% of the Amsterdam population.
- Weekly reporting of clinically diagnosed PID cases.
- Calculation of annual, age-specific incidence rates using population denominators.
Main Results:
- PID incidence was approximately 50 per 10,000 women until 1986.
- A notable decrease in PID incidence occurred from 1987, reaching 24 per 10,000 by 1990.
- The decline was observed in women aged 20-44, but not in teenagers, coinciding with increased media attention on HIV transmission risks.
Conclusions:
- The declining trend in PID incidence suggests a potential impact of behavioral changes.
- Public awareness regarding the risks of heterosexual transmission of HIV/AIDS may have influenced a reduction in PID rates.
- Further research is warranted to confirm the causal relationship between AIDS awareness and PID incidence decline.
Objective:
To study the incidence of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in Amsterdam in the period 1983-1990.
Methods:
Patients diagnosed with PID based on a clinical definition were reported weekly by 30 general practices who covered 11% of the Amsterdam population. Annual age specific incidences were calculated using the number of women in the participating practices as the denominator.
Results:
The PID incidence was approximately 50 per 10,000 women through 1986, and then started to decrease in 1987 to reach 24 per 10,000 in 1990. The decreasing trend since 1987 was seen in the age-groups 20-24, 25-34 and 35-44 years, but not among teenagers. The moment of decline coincided with extensive attention given in the Dutch media to the risk of heterosexual transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
Conclusion:
It is plausible that the declining incidence of PID was influenced by a change of heterosexual behaviour under the threat of AIDS.