This archive report was first published on 16 August 2019.
Study Reveals Alarming STI Rates Among Kenyan Women on Contraceptives ¶
Published on August 16, 2019, a study conducted in four African countries, including Kenya, has revealed alarming rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among women on long-acting contraceptives.
The study, which involved 900 women in Kisumu, found that those on hormonal contraceptives, particularly Depo, had higher rates of gonorrhoea and chlamydia compared to the general population.
According to the findings, chlamydia infection was 18 per cent at baseline and 15 per cent at the last visit, while gonorrhoea stood at five per cent, despite treatment during follow-up visits.
Experts have recommended that STI testing should now be offered at family planning clinics to prevent the spread of these debilitating diseases.
Dr. Peter Salama, the executive director for Universal Health Coverage and the Life-Course at WHO, emphasized the need for increased access to STI services, stating, 'There is lack of progress in stopping the spread of STIs worldwide. This is a wake-up call for those concerned.'
Dr. James Kiarie, coordinator of WHO's human reproduction team, cautioned against turning family planning solely into HIV prevention services, saying, 'We must be careful we don’t turn family planning solely into HIV prevention services.'
