Azeze B, Fantahun M, Kidan K G, Haile T
Gondar College of Medical Sciences, Ethiopia.
Genitourin Med. 1995 Dec;71(6):347-50. doi: 10.1136/sti.71.6.347.
To determine the seroprevalence of syphilis in pregnant women attending antenatal care clinics in a rural hospital in Ethiopia and describe their characteristics so that timely and effective care can be offered.
Pregnant women attending antenatal care clinics at a rural hospital.
A cross sectional study was conducted at a rural hospital in north west Ethiopia in September 1994. Data were collected on socio demographic characteristics and past history of sexually transmitted diseases of antenatal care attenders from the records of the hospital. Sera from these pregnant women were examined for syphilis using the VDRL test. VDRL positivity was cross tabulated with socio demographic variables and past history of sexually transmitted diseases.
Two hundred and seventy pregnant women were included in the study. Median age of the respondents was 25.2 years. A substantial majority were orthodox Christians (97.4%) and married (92.6%). Town dwellers constituted 58.2% of the antenatal care attenders. Only 4.7% of the women started attending antenatal care clinics during the first trimester. Thirty seven women (13.7%) were found to be VDRL positive. Past history of sexually transmitted diseases was significantly associated with VDRL positivity (p < 0.05).
High VDRL positivity rate is observed in this study. Certain risk factors may be responsible for current and past episodes of sexually transmitted diseases. There is a need for improvement of antenatal care activities at different levels of health care. Appropriate strategies should be devised for prevention and control of sexually transmitted diseases in women of reproductive age groups and the general population.
确定埃塞俄比亚一家农村医院产前保健门诊孕妇梅毒血清阳性率，并描述其特征，以便提供及时有效的护理。
在一家农村医院产前保健门诊就诊的孕妇。
1994年9月在埃塞俄比亚西北部的一家农村医院进行了一项横断面研究。从医院记录中收集产前保健就诊者的社会人口统计学特征和性传播疾病既往史数据。使用性病研究实验室（VDRL）试验检测这些孕妇的血清梅毒情况。将VDRL阳性结果与社会人口统计学变量和性传播疾病既往史进行交叉制表。
270名孕妇纳入研究。受访者的中位年龄为25.2岁。绝大多数是东正教徒（97.4%）且已婚（92.6%）。城镇居民占产前保健就诊者的58.2%。只有4.7%的妇女在孕早期开始到产前保健门诊就诊。37名妇女（13.7%）VDRL检测呈阳性。性传播疾病既往史与VDRL阳性显著相关（p<0.05）。
本研究中观察到较高的VDRL阳性率。某些危险因素可能与当前和既往性传播疾病发作有关。需要在不同层次的医疗保健中改善产前保健活动。应为育龄妇女和普通人群制定针对性传播疾病预防和控制的适当策略。
