A sociological and serological study of at tenders of family planning clinics in Addis Ababa

Abstract

Abstract:

A study of 542 women attending family planning clinics (FPC) and 1568 women attending obstetric and gynaecologic clinics in Addis Ababa showed utilisation of FPC was highest in those with a family income of 100-500 EB per month (36%), in women who were: Tigrawi (33%) or Amara (31 %), aged 20-34 years (30%), age 16 or older at first marriage/coitus (28%), parity of 2... 2 children (35%), > 5 lifetime husbands/sexual partners (39%), or were bargirls (73%) or prostitutes (43%). FPC attendance was lowest among the nulliparous (2.3%), women from rural areas (10%), the Guragie (10%) and Oromo women (19%), Moslem women 14(%), those of subsistence income ( < 10EB per month) (14%). The seroprevalence rates indicative of exposure to STD pathogens were high as was the prevalence of essentially asymptomatic pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Only 4% of FPC at tenders had no serological evidence of STD: 64% had 3 or more different STD. Specific present or active STD infection prevalence for syphilis (VDRL) 28%, Neisseria gonorrhoea 31 %, genital chlamydia 46% and HSV-2 21% was higher in FPC at tenders than among women attending other clinics. Clinical evidence of PID was also more common in the FPC at tenders (54%), 37% having evidence of salpingitis. Thus FPCs provide a useful setting for screening women particularly at risk. Because of lack of symptoms, these women are unlikely to attend either an STDs clinic or a hospital for routine check up, and as such are not treated and represent a population from which STDs can spread into the population. Measures to screen, treat and educate FPC at tenders, their partners and their clients, are recommended in an attempt to Control STDs and ultimately HIV in the community. [Ethiop. J. Hea/th Dev. 1995;9(1):19-30]