Provision of Sexually Transmitted Infection Services in a Mobile Clinic Reveals High Unmet Need in Remote Areas of South Africa: A Cross-sectional Study

Charlotte M. Hoffman, Nontembeko Mbambazela, Phumzile Sithole, Servaas A. Morré, Jan Henk Dubbink, Jean Railton, James A. McIntyre, Marleen M. Kock, Remco P. H. Peters

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

The burden of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in areas of sub-Saharan Africa with poor access to health care services is not well documented. In remote areas of South Africa, we investigated the prevalence of STIs and approaches to providing STI services through a mobile clinic. Methods We recruited 251 adult women visiting a mobile clinic that normally provides general health education and screening services, but not STI care. Clinical and sexual history was obtained and vaginal specimens were tested for Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Trichomonas vaginalis, and Mycoplasma genitalium infection and for Candida albicans and bacterial vaginosis. Results Laboratory test was positive for 133 (53%) of 251 women for at least 1 STI: C. trachomatis was observed in 52 (21%) women, N. gonorrhoeae in 39 (16%) women, T. vaginalis in 81 (32%) women and M. genitalium in 21 (8%) women. Eighty-one (32%) women met the criteria for vaginal discharge syndrome, of which 58% (47/81) would have been treated accurately. Among asymptomatic women 84 (49%) of 170 were diagnosed with an STI but untreated under the syndromic approach. We could not identify factors associated with asymptomatic STI infection. Conclusions There is a high unmet need for STI care in rural South African settings with poor access to health care services. Provision of STI services in a mobile clinic using the syndromic management approach provides a useful approach, but would have to be enhanced by targeted diagnostics to successfully address the burden of infection.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)206-212
JournalSexually Transmitted Diseases
Volume46
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2019

Cite this

Hoffman, Charlotte M. ; Mbambazela, Nontembeko ; Sithole, Phumzile ; Morré, Servaas A. ; Dubbink, Jan Henk ; Railton, Jean ; McIntyre, James A. ; Kock, Marleen M. ; Peters, Remco P. H. / Provision of Sexually Transmitted Infection Services in a Mobile Clinic Reveals High Unmet Need in Remote Areas of South Africa: A Cross-sectional Study. In: Sexually Transmitted Diseases. 2019 ; Vol. 46, No. 3. pp. 206-212.
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title = "Provision of Sexually Transmitted Infection Services in a Mobile Clinic Reveals High Unmet Need in Remote Areas of South Africa: A Cross-sectional Study",
abstract = "The burden of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in areas of sub-Saharan Africa with poor access to health care services is not well documented. In remote areas of South Africa, we investigated the prevalence of STIs and approaches to providing STI services through a mobile clinic. Methods We recruited 251 adult women visiting a mobile clinic that normally provides general health education and screening services, but not STI care. Clinical and sexual history was obtained and vaginal specimens were tested for Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Trichomonas vaginalis, and Mycoplasma genitalium infection and for Candida albicans and bacterial vaginosis. Results Laboratory test was positive for 133 (53{\%}) of 251 women for at least 1 STI: C. trachomatis was observed in 52 (21{\%}) women, N. gonorrhoeae in 39 (16{\%}) women, T. vaginalis in 81 (32{\%}) women and M. genitalium in 21 (8{\%}) women. Eighty-one (32{\%}) women met the criteria for vaginal discharge syndrome, of which 58{\%} (47/81) would have been treated accurately. Among asymptomatic women 84 (49{\%}) of 170 were diagnosed with an STI but untreated under the syndromic approach. We could not identify factors associated with asymptomatic STI infection. Conclusions There is a high unmet need for STI care in rural South African settings with poor access to health care services. Provision of STI services in a mobile clinic using the syndromic management approach provides a useful approach, but would have to be enhanced by targeted diagnostics to successfully address the burden of infection.",
author = "Hoffman, {Charlotte M.} and Nontembeko Mbambazela and Phumzile Sithole and Morr{\'e}, {Servaas A.} and Dubbink, {Jan Henk} and Jean Railton and McIntyre, {James A.} and Kock, {Marleen M.} and Peters, {Remco P. H.}",
year = "2019",
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language = "English",
volume = "46",
pages = "206--212",
journal = "Sexually Transmitted Diseases",
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Hoffman, CM, Mbambazela, N, Sithole, P, Morré, SA, Dubbink, JH, Railton, J, McIntyre, JA, Kock, MM & Peters, RPH 2019, 'Provision of Sexually Transmitted Infection Services in a Mobile Clinic Reveals High Unmet Need in Remote Areas of South Africa: A Cross-sectional Study' Sexually Transmitted Diseases, vol. 46, no. 3, pp. 206-212. https://doi.org/10.1097/OLQ.0000000000000931

Provision of Sexually Transmitted Infection Services in a Mobile Clinic Reveals High Unmet Need in Remote Areas of South Africa: A Cross-sectional Study. / Hoffman, Charlotte M.; Mbambazela, Nontembeko; Sithole, Phumzile; Morré, Servaas A.; Dubbink, Jan Henk; Railton, Jean; McIntyre, James A.; Kock, Marleen M.; Peters, Remco P. H.

In: Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Vol. 46, No. 3, 2019, p. 206-212.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

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T1 - Provision of Sexually Transmitted Infection Services in a Mobile Clinic Reveals High Unmet Need in Remote Areas of South Africa: A Cross-sectional Study

AU - Hoffman, Charlotte M.

AU - Mbambazela, Nontembeko

AU - Sithole, Phumzile

AU - Morré, Servaas A.

AU - Dubbink, Jan Henk

AU - Railton, Jean

AU - McIntyre, James A.

AU - Kock, Marleen M.

AU - Peters, Remco P. H.

PY - 2019

Y1 - 2019

N2 - The burden of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in areas of sub-Saharan Africa with poor access to health care services is not well documented. In remote areas of South Africa, we investigated the prevalence of STIs and approaches to providing STI services through a mobile clinic. Methods We recruited 251 adult women visiting a mobile clinic that normally provides general health education and screening services, but not STI care. Clinical and sexual history was obtained and vaginal specimens were tested for Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Trichomonas vaginalis, and Mycoplasma genitalium infection and for Candida albicans and bacterial vaginosis. Results Laboratory test was positive for 133 (53%) of 251 women for at least 1 STI: C. trachomatis was observed in 52 (21%) women, N. gonorrhoeae in 39 (16%) women, T. vaginalis in 81 (32%) women and M. genitalium in 21 (8%) women. Eighty-one (32%) women met the criteria for vaginal discharge syndrome, of which 58% (47/81) would have been treated accurately. Among asymptomatic women 84 (49%) of 170 were diagnosed with an STI but untreated under the syndromic approach. We could not identify factors associated with asymptomatic STI infection. Conclusions There is a high unmet need for STI care in rural South African settings with poor access to health care services. Provision of STI services in a mobile clinic using the syndromic management approach provides a useful approach, but would have to be enhanced by targeted diagnostics to successfully address the burden of infection.

AB - The burden of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in areas of sub-Saharan Africa with poor access to health care services is not well documented. In remote areas of South Africa, we investigated the prevalence of STIs and approaches to providing STI services through a mobile clinic. Methods We recruited 251 adult women visiting a mobile clinic that normally provides general health education and screening services, but not STI care. Clinical and sexual history was obtained and vaginal specimens were tested for Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Trichomonas vaginalis, and Mycoplasma genitalium infection and for Candida albicans and bacterial vaginosis. Results Laboratory test was positive for 133 (53%) of 251 women for at least 1 STI: C. trachomatis was observed in 52 (21%) women, N. gonorrhoeae in 39 (16%) women, T. vaginalis in 81 (32%) women and M. genitalium in 21 (8%) women. Eighty-one (32%) women met the criteria for vaginal discharge syndrome, of which 58% (47/81) would have been treated accurately. Among asymptomatic women 84 (49%) of 170 were diagnosed with an STI but untreated under the syndromic approach. We could not identify factors associated with asymptomatic STI infection. Conclusions There is a high unmet need for STI care in rural South African settings with poor access to health care services. Provision of STI services in a mobile clinic using the syndromic management approach provides a useful approach, but would have to be enhanced by targeted diagnostics to successfully address the burden of infection.

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UR - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30363030

U2 - 10.1097/OLQ.0000000000000931

DO - 10.1097/OLQ.0000000000000931

M3 - Article

VL - 46

SP - 206

EP - 212

JO - Sexually Transmitted Diseases

JF - Sexually Transmitted Diseases

SN - 0148-5717

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Hoffman CM, Mbambazela N, Sithole P, Morré SA, Dubbink JH, Railton J et al. Provision of Sexually Transmitted Infection Services in a Mobile Clinic Reveals High Unmet Need in Remote Areas of South Africa: A Cross-sectional Study. Sexually Transmitted Diseases. 2019;46(3):206-212. https://doi.org/10.1097/OLQ.0000000000000931

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