Sexually Transmitted Infections in Women from a Traditional Quilombola Community in Northeastern Brazil

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) affect approximately more than 1 million people around the world. Specific populations are more predisposed to diseases caused by poor access to health care, especially sexual health. This is the case for Indigenous people and other traditional communities around the globe. This work aimed to evaluate the prevalence of some STIs in traditional quilombola communities in the northern region of Brazil.

A cross-sectional and prospective study was carried out from March 2021 to March 2022 of quilombola women from 5 communities. A questionnaire was applied to collect sociodemographic, behavioral, and clinical information. A gynecological examination was performed to collect cervical cells for oncotic cytology and to detect the agents through polymerase chain reaction analysis.

Almost half of the women (48.3%) had at least one sexually transmitted agent. Human papillomavirus (HPV) was the most observed (P < 0.05). There were differences in the prevalence of STIs between the quilombola communities, and the type of women's profession was also influenced (P = 0.022 and P = 0.027, respectively). Lower monthly income was associated with greater STI infection as well as the reproductive life cycle (P = 0.043 and P = 0.026, respectively). Nonmenopausal women had a higher prevalence of STIs than those in menopause.

Almost half of the quilombola women had at least one sexually transmitted agent. HPV infection was the most common. The location of the Quilombola community and women's profession was associated with the prevalence of STIs. Low monthly income and not being in menopause were associated with a higher prevalence of STIs.