Trends in the epidemiology of bacterial sexually transmitted infections in Eastern Europe, 1995-2005: review.

Anneli Uusküla (1) , Allan Puur (2) , Karolin Toompere (1) , J Dehovitz (3)

1 Department of Public Health, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
2 Estonian Interuniversity Population Research Center, Tallinn University, Tallinn, Estonia
3 SUNY - State University of New York

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a significant public health problem both worldwide and in Europe. In this article we review trends in the epidemiology of the major bacterial STIs in the Eastern European countries, their key determinants, as well as challenges and opportunities for enhancing STI control in the region. Search strategy: publications were sought through computerised searches in PubMed from 1995 to 2008 using using free text and relevant Medical Subject Headings with no language restrictions. Conference abstracts and other unpublished manuscripts were excluded. Results: The reported rates of STIs in many Eastern European countries have either decreased (syphilis and gonorrhea in Eastern/Russian regions, gonorrhoea throughout Eastern Europe) or been relatively stable (syphilis in Southeastern region, Chlamydia throughout Eastern Europe), in the past decade, but are still significantly higher than in western Europe. There is a significant east–west geo-political gradient in reported STI rates throughout Eastern Europe (STI rates: Russia/Eastern region >> Southeastern region > Central region). Challenges for STI control include: the need to strengthen public health components of control; improvements in surveillance; and improvement, as well as quality assurance, in diagnostic strategies. Gains in STI control may be achieved though greater collaboration and harmonisation of practices at the European level.

Mots clés: CHLAMYDIA TRACHOMATIS; EPIDEMIOLOGY; GONORRHOEA; STD; SYPHILIS

Anneli Uusküla, Allan Puur, Karolin Toompere, J Dehovitz. Trends in the epidemiology of bacterial sexually transmitted infections in Eastern Europe, 1995-2005: review.. Sexually Transmitted Infections, 2010, 86 (1), pp.6. ⟨10.1136/sti.2009.037044⟩. ⟨hal-00552819⟩