A survey of sexually transmitted diseases in the Democratic Republic of Somalia
Podgore, J.K.; Omar, M.A.
East African Medical Journal 63(10): 640-645
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 0012-835X PMID: 3816631 Document Number: 268022
A survey was conducted in four major urban centres in Somalia in 1983 to determine the etiology and distribution of sexually, transmitted diseases (STDs). Results of a serosurvey of 1923 STD clinic patients and 553 healthy controls revealed positive serologic reactions for syphilis in 11% to 19% of STD clinic patients and in 6% of control subjects. Gonococcal infections were found in 9% of male and 4% of female STD clinic patients in Mogadishu. Vaginal candida and trichomonas infections were noted in approximately 20% of female STD clinic patients. Penicillinase production was detected among only 5% of the Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates. These observations indicate that STDs are a common medical problem in Somalia and require significant public health resources for effective control.