Declining Prevalence Rates of Syphilis Among Police Officers in Guinea-Bissau, West Africa, 1990-2010

摘要

We analyzed prevalence rates of syphilis (positive Trepo-nema pallidum hemagglutinin antigen/T. pallidum particle antigen and venereal disease research laboratory test) among police officers in Guinea-Bissau from 1990 to 2010 and found a significant decline from 4.5% to 0.4% (P = 0.0065). Our results are in line with other recent reports from West Africa. More research is needed to identify the reasons for this decline. Syphilis is an important sexually transmitted infection (STI) that may cause various symptoms including genital ulcers, systemic disease, and congenital syphilis as well as enhancing the transmission of HIV In Guinea-Bissau, studies have reported prevalence rates of active syphilis ranging from 1.0% to 3.9% and serological evidence of previous syphilis infection ranging from 11.3% to 12.1%5'6 in diverse risk groups such as pregnant women, female urogenital patients, military personnel, and police officers. Recent studies in some high-prevalence countries in West Africa have indicated declines in syphilis prevalence.