Economic hardship and sexually transmitted diseases in Haiti's rural Artibonite Valley.

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  • Fitzgerald, Daniel W.
    • Other Affiliation: Hospital Albert Schweitzer
  • Behets, Frieda
    • Affiliation: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
  • Caliendo, Angela
    • Other Affiliation: Massachusetts General Hospital
  • Roberfroid, Dominique
  • Lucet, Catherine
  • Fitzgerald, Jennifer W.
  • Kuykens, Luc
    • Other Affiliation: Massachusetts General Hospital
Abstract
  • A study was conducted to determine the prevalence rate and risk factors for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in Haiti's rural Artibonite Valley. Women attending antenatal services at Hospital Albert Schweitzer from October to December 1996 were tested for gonorrhea, chlamydia, trichomonas, syphilis, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Of the 476 women tested, 121 (25.4%) had trichomonas, 11/475 (2.3%) had gonorrhea, 51/475 (10.7%) had chlamydia, 32/474 (6.8%) were seropositive for syphilis, 20/469 (4.3%) were seropositive for HIV, and 191 (40.1%) had at least one STD. Nearly 30% of the women reported having entered a sexual relationship out of economic necessity and had increased odds of HIV infection, Odds Ratio (OR) 6.3 (P < 0.001). We postulate that due to recent economic hardship in rural Haiti, women are entering into sexual relationships out of economic necessity and that this trend is contributing to the growing HIV epidemic. We recommend STD prevention and development programs that target young people and economically disadvantaged women.
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  • Article
Rights statement
  • In Copyright
Journal title
  • The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Journal volume
  • 62
Journal issue
  • 4
Page start
  • 496
Page end
  • 501
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  • Publisher
ISSN
  • 1476-1645
  • 0002-9637

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