Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs):

Diagnosis & Treatment,

Link with HIV

 WHO classified STIs into Seven syndromes:

•  Genital Ulcers in men and women

        Discharge in men and women

        Scrotal Swelling in men

        Pelvic Inflammatory Disease in women

       Neo-natal Conjunctivitis in newborns

 Complications of untreated STIs:

•      Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) - swelling of uterus, tubes, ovaries causing abdominal pain, vaginal discharge and fever

•      Infertility (Male & female)

•      Abortions, still birth, early childhood deaths

•       Birth defects

•       Cancer of the cervix

•      Death due to sepsis, ectopic pregnancy

•    Blindness

    Relationship between STI & HIV:

•      Transmitted by the same route

•      Presence of STI increase the chance of HIV transmission  3- 10 times

•      STI provide entry for the HIV to enter the blood stream

•      Same modes of prevention and same target audience

•      STI may be more severe and more resistant to treatment in HIV Positive persons

•     Most of the STIs except HIV & Hepatitis are curable

 Key Messages:

•      Most of the STIs are curable.

•      Identify the symptoms, and seek early treatment from a medical practitioners only

•      Complete the course of treatment, it is not done, the infection will not be cured completely

•      Get partner also treated so as to avoid re-infection from the partner

•      Use condoms correctly and consistently

 Condom Promotion

(in the context of prevention of STI/HIV)

                                         Condom Promotion:

•      Promotion of condoms needs to be understood in the context of public health

•      Condom Education: Advice about the use of condoms and provide usage skills; inform about benefits of condom and address barriers

•      Accessibility: Information on where and how to access the condom. Making condoms available to people

•  A system of condom procurement storage and distribution.

Addressing common barriers in condom use:

Condoms reduce sexual pleasure

•      Pleasure from sexual acts depends upon several factors

•      Even with the same partner the same degree of pleasure may not be experienced every time

•      Condoms are thin and lubricated. Some people perceive them to enhance sexual pleasure.

•      Condoms should be seen in the context of providing protection from STD/HIV

Barriers to condom use cont….

Condoms break and are not reliable?

      It is more of a problem of incorrect usage, not the product.

•      Condoms available currently are of good quality, handling them carefully and wearing it correctly, not using more than one condom at a time, using water based lubrication greatly reduces the chances of breaking

Properly expelling the air before use matters a lot in reducing         the chance of breaking

 Barriers to condom use continued..

 Too shy to buy condom

         There are several places where condoms are available. Pick the     one most convenient to you.

•      Repeatedly tell yourself - you are buying Condoms as they protect from infections and pregnancy.

•       Condoms are one of many things sold at a shop. Shopkeepers get several customers every day and are used to selling without passing any judgments or asking questions.

•      It would be more embarrassing to get infections or end up in unwanted pregnancy.

•    It would be all the more embarrassing to go to STD clinic

Food for Thought

What the difference

between

Condom Use

for

Family Planning

&

Disease Prevention