Association between HIV1 infection and sexually transmitted disease among men in Central Africa

In Africa, heterosexual contact is the major route of transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Previous studies have strongly suggested that other sexually transmitted diseases (STD) may facilitate HIV transmission. However, the association of HIV infection with other STD may simply be a marker of sexual promiscuity. Thus, we compared the association of different STD, HIV status, and sexual behaviour of 160 STD patients and 95 STD-free control individuals. Results showed that STD patients differed from controls in most of the sociological and behavioural parameters, as well as in HIV serological status. Within the STD group, people with genital ulcer disease (GUD) (n = 62) were more likely to be HIV-seropositive (21%) than people with urethritis (n = 98, 11.2%). Meanwhile, there was almost no difference in the sociological and behavioural parameters between the GUD and the urethritis group. Thus, our results reinforce the specific role of mucosal breakage (i.e. genital ulcers) in the transmission of HIV.