The evolution of sexually transmitted infections in the Ukraine

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate trends in the national and regional reporting of syphilis, gonorrhoea, chlamydia, genital herpes, trichomoniasis, and HIV in Ukraine. Methods: Annual notification rates of infection per 105 population in three regions of Ukraine - Donetsk, Mikolaiv, Chernivtsi - and also among children, adolescents, and pregnant women were used as indicators for the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the Ukraine from 1994 to 2000. The estimates were based on a review of medical literature, reported data from STD clinics, and local epidemiological surveys. An analysis of the trends was made. Results: The notification rate of trichomoniasis rose from 284.3 in 1997 to 330.8 in 2000. The same for syphilis was 68.7 per 100 000 population in 1994 peaked in 1996 with 150.9 falling to 91.5 in 2000. The reported incidence of gonorrhoea has been falling recently to 52.7/105 in 2000 (a 104.6% decrease since 1994). Chlamydia notification rates, however, rose 2.4-fold between 1995 and 2000 (16.1/105 to 54.2/105). In the same period there was a 218% increase the reported incidence of genital herpes. STIs are more common in the eastern industrial regions. In the period 1994-7 there was a dramatic 179-fold increase in the prevalence of HIV/AIDS which has plateaued in subsequent years. By January 2001 a total of 36 600 cases of HIV infection (including 2040 people with AIDS) have been reported. The proportion of HIV acquired through injecting drug use is falling (72.7% in 1997 to 54.2% in 2000) in relation to that acquired through sexual contact. Conclusions: STIs and HIV are a common cause of morbidity in Ukraine.