Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Turkiye Klinikleri Journal of Medical Sciences, cilt.26, sa.6, ss.655-665, 2006 (SCI-Expanded)
Changes in the frequency of sexually transmitted infections in the world lead the countries to conduct various studies to assess the spreading patterns of diseases and human sources of infections, especially for HIV/AIDS. Determination of vulnerable groups for the diseases results with the development of policies on disease control and prevention programs. In our country, although many studies are carried out and data are gathered systematically, the information obtained is not analyzed and the results are not shared. At present, syphilis, gonorrhea, HIV-AIDS and Hepatitis B are considered notifiable diseases; notification data are collected by the Ministry of Health. The results of the data on notifiable diseases and researches demonstrate that syphilis and HIV/AIDS infections, although in a slow manner, are increasing. Gonorrhea is more frequent among people who have genitourinary infections. Hepatitis B infections do not show an escalating trend due to routine vaccination programs in childhood. Chlamydia infections show a distribution similar to gonorrhea infections and have a major role in infertility cases. The demographic structure and socio-cultural features of our community suggest that sexually transmitted infections are more likely to spread among women, children and adolescents, registered-unregistered sex workers, intravenous drug users, heterosexuals and male homosexuals. Raising sensitivity among primary health care workers/employees on disease control, intersectoral information sharing, increasing laboratory use and facilities, setting up/establishing a surveillance system including specialties of behavior are the major preventive measures for sexually transmitted infections. Copyright © 2006 by Türkiye Klinikleri.