Home | Published Research | Prevalence of sexually transmitted infections and bacterial vaginosis among women in sub-Saharan Africa: An individual participant data meta-analysis of 18 HIV prevention studies

February 1, 2018

Prevalence of sexually transmitted infections and bacterial vaginosis among women in sub-Saharan Africa: An individual participant data meta-analysis of 18 HIV prevention studies

Written By

Torrone EA, Morrison CS, Chen PL, Kwok C, Francis SC, Hayes RJ, Looker KJ, McCormack S, McGrath N, van de Wijgert JH, Watson-Jones D, Low N, Gottlieb SL, STIMA working group

Estimates of sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevalence are essential for efforts to prevent and control STIs. This study used a two-stage meta-analysis to estimate the prevalence of chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, syphilis, herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) and bacterial vaginosis (BV) among women in sub-Saharan Africa. These findings highlight important features of STI and BV epidemiology. The authors state this methodology can be used where routine STI surveillance is limited and offers a new approach to obtaining critical information on STI and BV prevalence in low- and middle-income countries.