Sexually transmitted diseases seen in a Nigerian tertiary institution

Surveillance of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) and Human Imunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infections among high risk groups is an important strategy for the control of the diseases which occurrence have been on the increase worldwide. The objective of this study is to provide a descriptive epidemiology of the pattern of STDs among clinic attendees at a Special Treatment Clinic (STC) of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan.

A retrospective review of records of all new patients presenting at the STC between 1st January 2000 and 31= December 2000 was carried out.

Clinic records were available for 336 new patients who visited the clinic in the year under review. The result showed that non-gonococcal urethritis (45.2 %) and gonococcal urethritis (15.9%) were the most common STDs in men, while candidiasis (37.2%) and gardrellena vaginitis (31.8%) were the most common in women. Three 3(1.1%) of the patients had HIV infection, which had not been previously reported in the clinic.

The findings indicate a change morbidity pattern in the STD clinic that suggests the need to include HIV/AIDS management and care in the services provided.