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Published on: January 27, 2019
Sexually transmissible diseases and travel
1University of Sydney, NSW, Australia.
British Medical Bulletin
|April 1, 1993
Summary
Sexually transmissible diseases (STDs) remain a global health concern. Travelers can reduce STD risks by avoiding high-risk sexual behaviors and practicing safe sex, including condom use.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Sexually transmissible diseases (STDs) are the most common notifiable infectious diseases globally.
- The emergence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, an incurable STD, highlights the severity of the issue and its pandemic potential.
- STDs exhibit epidemiological synergy with HIV, exacerbating the global health burden.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the risk of STD acquisition among travelers.
- To identify high-risk behaviors and populations associated with STD transmission.
- To recommend preventive strategies for travelers to mitigate STD risks.
Main Methods:
- Review of epidemiological data on STD incidence worldwide.
- Analysis of risk factors for STD acquisition in traveler populations.
- Evaluation of the effectiveness of preventive measures against STDs.
Main Results:
- Certain travelers face a high relative risk of acquiring STDs due to behavioral interactions with core transmission groups.
- High-risk behaviors include penetrative sex with casual partners, particularly injecting drug users and individuals with multiple sexual partners.
- Parenteral exposure risks are associated with drug use and injury-prone behaviors.
Conclusions:
- Avoiding penetrative sex with casual partners can virtually eliminate STD risk for travelers.
- Consistent condom use significantly reduces the risk of STD transmission.
- Minimizing parenteral exposure through safe practices and adequate healthcare screening is crucial for STD prevention.
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