A SOCIO-EPIDEMIOLOGIC SURVEY OF VENEREAL DISEASES AMONG

of venereal diseases (VD) was carried out at a hospitai for VD and skin dis-eases In Singapore. The study subjects comprised 401 national servicemen from the Singapore Armed Forces who were selected by periodic stratified random sampling from among army patients at the hospital. These subjects were divided Into two groups, one consisting of those suffering solely from venereal diseases and the other from non-venereal skin diseases only. Studies were made to compare the personal characteristics, educational and social backgrounds and sexual behavior between these two groups. On the basis of the results, a profile of a soldier likely to contract venereal diseases was made. The study showed that soldiers have inadequate knowledge of venereal diseases. Suggestions are made to Improve education as to vene-real diseases and to reduce risk of Infection in the armed forces. military personnel; sampling studies; skin diseases; venereal diseases Soldiers have often been associated among soldiers is even higher (4). A study with a high prevalence of infections with was reported in 1970 on the venereal dis