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  • Title: Sexually transmitted diseases: priorities outlined for Africa.
    Journal: Netw Res Triangle Park N C; 1986; 8(1):4-5. PubMed ID: 12268488.
    Abstract:
    Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) cause infertility in nearly half of all women in parts of Africa. In addition to the personal cost of divorce and ostracism that African women may face, the public health repercussions are both serious and widespread. To deal with this problem, 16 STD experts from Africa, Europe, and the US met to develop a priority list for research and control of STDs in Africa. The most common STDs in Africa are gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis. Other problems are papillomavirus, chancroid, lymphogranuloma, venereum, and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Africa's STD victims frequently do not go to doctors for treatment but instead buy antibiotics or get injections at a pharmacy. The infections often persist even though the symptoms may disappear. This self-treatment has contributed to the emergence of new strains of gonorrhea that resist penicillin and are difficult and expensive to treat. Additionally, the governments of Africa cannot afford to buy the more expensive antibiotics needed to combat the resistant strains of gonorrhea and require the assistance of international agencies to identify, treat, and control penicillin-resistant gonorrhea. Other costs are related to individuals' reduced ability to work. The magnitude of the problem is unknown because many STD victims are unaware they are infected and do not enter into official health care systems and statistics. The conference participants identified the need to integrate STD and family planning services as a priority.
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