RTI/STI Prevalence in Selected Sites in the Philippines

This study aimed to estimate the magnitude of the STI problem in the general population and to provide data to improve RTI/STI case management guidelines.

The study revealed that STI prevalence, particularly genital ulcer disease, remains low in the general population in the Philippines. However, young people have relatively high prevalence of genital chlamydial infection. The study also demonstrated moderately high prevalence of established risk behaviors such as men having unprotected commercial sex encounters. There is a need to provide new approaches and strengthen current STI interventions to sustain the low STI rates and lower chlamydial infections. The foregoing findings revealed that majority of the STI cases are asymptomatic. Since current laboratory tests are expensive and simple and cheap laboratory tests are still unavailable, there is a need to develop a strategy to reach and treat asymptomatic STI cases.