Pattern of Sexually Transmitted Infections in Federal Medical Center Asaba: A Five-year Retrospective Study on Syphilis, Gonorrhea, and Chlamydia

Abstract

Aim: The present study determines the patterns of sexually transmitted infections in Federal Medical Center Asaba in the past five years, with relation to their socio-demographic characteristics. Study Design: A five-year retrospective study.   Place and Duration of Study: Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria between 1st of January 2019 to 31st of December 2023. Methodology: A retrospective study on sexually transmitted infections (syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia) in the hospital, from 2019 – 2023, a review of the medical records from FMC Asaba to collect data on the socio-demographics of patients, prevalence of the infections reported over the past five years. Results: In a comprehensive analysis of 89 subjects, it was found that a substantial majority, specifically 62 individuals (69.7%), were identified as male, while the remaining 27 subjects (30.3%) were female. This demographic distribution indicated a significant male predominance, with a calculated male-to-female ratio of 2.8:1 throughout the examined period. Notably, this ratio was not static; rather, it exhibited fluctuations that varied from year to year, emphasizing the dynamic nature of the population under study. Delving deeper into the patient demographics, the mean age of male patients during the five-year assessment period was recorded at 32.3 years. In contrast, female patients presented with a slightly older average age of 38 years, suggesting potential differences in risk factors and health seeking behaviors between the genders. When examining the types of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) present in this study, Syphilis clearly emerged as the predominant infection, accounting for a striking 71 cases, which constituted 79.8% of the total infections documented, this was followed by Gonorrhea, with a total of 12 cases representing 13.5% of the population. Additionally, there was one case each (1.1%) of genital warts and mixed infections that involved both Syphilis and Chlamydia. Moreover, it is significant to note that four cases (4.5%) were identified as HIV positive individuals who also had concurrent Syphilis infections. Conclusion: The findings of our study indicate a discernible reduction in the number of patients diagnosed with STIs attending the healthcare facility in comparison to trends observed in preceding years. The reasons underlying this decline remain speculative; it may either reflect a genuine decrease in the prevalence of STIs within the community or lack of resources to carry out these tests. Enhanced access to diagnostic laboratories and treatment centers for STIs may have contributed to this observed decrease in patient visits, as individuals may now feel more empowered to seek care in alternative settings.