| The countries of the former Soviet Union are currently experiencing
major epidemics of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). By 1997 rates
of syphilis notification in the Russian Federation had risen to 277 per
100,000 total population, a 43-fold increase over 1989 levels, with rises
proportionally larger among young women. Epidemics of gonorrhoea occurred
earlier in Russia with official notification rates rising from 105 per
100,000 in 1987 to 232 per 100,000 in 1993; and exceeded one per 100 among
both young men and young women in that year. The true incidence of gonorrhoea
is certainly much higher. These STI epidemics cause direct suffering and
may be important in significantly enhancing the transmission of human immunodeficiency
virus (HIV), in the context of liberalization of sexual behaviour, and
epidemics of injecting drug use and related HIV transmission. This paper
reviews recent epidemiological trends in syphilis and other STIs in Russia
against the background of existing mechanisms for the control of these
infections.
Publication Types:
PMID: 10582634 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] |
