Etiology of Sexually Transmitted Infections among Street-Based

An etiological study of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) was conducted among female sex workers (FSWs) in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Endocervical swab and blood samples from 269 street-based FSWs were examined for Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, and Trichomonas vaginalis as well as for antibodies to Treponema pallidum and herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2). Sociodemographic data and data regarding behavior were also collected. A total of 226 of the 269 FSWs (84%) were positive for the STI pathogens studied. Among the 269 FSWs, 35.5 % were positive for N. gonorrhoeae, 25 % were positive for C. trachomatis, 45.5 % were positive for T. vaginalis, 32.6 % were seropositive for T. pallidum, 62.5 % were seropositive for HSV-2, and 51% had infections with two or more pathogens. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) represent a major public health problem in developing countries, including Ban-gladesh. It is estimated that there are 333 million new cases of STIs per annum and that 10 to 15 million people are infected with human immunodeficiency virus worldwide every year. Southeast Asia is an important area for STIs, with an estimated 150 million new cases in 1995 (11). Female sex workers (FSWs