Assessing sexually transmitted infections in a cohort of women living with HIV/AIDS, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Abstract

A cohort of 458 HIV-positive women under antiretroviral therapy has been followed at a reference hospital in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Most of them belong to impoverished social strata. Patients were screened for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and gynaecologic conditions. Some STIs were found to be uncommon (e.g. chlamydial and gonococcal infections), while some conditions (bacterial vaginosis) and STIs, e.g. hepatitis B and human papilloma virus (HPV) infection, were found to be quite prevalent. The latter is of special concern, due to the high prevalence of HIV/HPV co-infection (∼51%) and its association with severe immunodeficiency, in a context of unacceptable high levels of uterine cancer and uneven gynaecological care. HIV-positive women are in need of comprehensive health services, including high-quality, regular, gynaecologic care in order to diagnose and treat lower genital tract infections and prevent the evolution of HPV-related lesions. Reproductive counselling should be a part of this approach.