Epidemiology of sexually transmitted diseases in Singapore, 1977 to 1993

The pattern and prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) have changed over the past decades. There is a decline in the prevalence of STDs in many countries. The prevalence of bacterial STDs including gonorrhoea, syphilis and chancroid have declined because of the availability of effective antibiotics whereas the prevalence of viral STDs, including herpes simplex and viral warts, have increased as no effective antiviral drugs are available for these infections at present. The highest proportion of patients with STDs are still those below 30 years old. Most of the patients acquire STDs from commercial sex workers. Health education and prevention remain the most important ways to control STDs until effective antiviral agents and vaccines against STDs become available. Constant monitoring of the trends of STDs will help the authorities to implement relevant and cost-effective preventive programmes.