{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,15]],"date-time":"2025-12-15T01:25:58Z","timestamp":1765761958384,"version":"3.48.0"},"reference-count":52,"publisher":"CSIRO Publishing","issue":"6","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,4]],"date-time":"2025-12-04T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1764806400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-nd\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,23]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) remain a major public health concern among pregnant women in low-resource settings, such as Ethiopia. Today, their true prevalence is underestimated due to syndromic management, which misses asymptomatic infections. Indeed, limited resources restrict a test-and-treat approach, and routine antenatal care screening is usually confined to HIV and syphilis. This study assessed the prevalence of common STIs using routinely available diagnostics to demonstrate their potential integration into routine antenatal care services.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>A cross-sectional study was conducted from July to December 2024 among 743 pregnant women at \u226416\u00a0weeks gestation. Vaginal swabs were examined for Trichomonas vaginalis using wet mount and Gram-negative diplococci suggestive of Neisseria gonorrhoeae using Gram stain. HIV and syphilis screening were performed using SD BIOLINE Duo kit. Participants\u2019 data were collected with REDCap, and complex-sample logistic regression analyzed factors associated with STIs.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Of 743 women, 91 (12.2%; 95% CI: 10.1\u201314.8) had at least one STI, of which 62.6% (57\/91) were asymptomatic. Risk factors associated with STIs included being merchants (AOR\u00a01.80; 95% CI: 1.05\u20133.11), no media usage (AOR\u00a00.60; 95% CI: 0.39\u20130.91), low wealth index (AOR\u00a01.51; 95% CI: 1.08\u20132.10) and the presence of clue cells (AOR\u00a03.47; 95% CI: 1.29\u20139.35).<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>STIs remain prevalent and frequently asymptomatic, highlighting the inadequacy of syndromic management in antenatal care. Social, economic and biological factors predict infection, emphasizing the need for routine laboratory-based screening and targeted interventions. Future research should use molecular diagnostics to capture comprehensive STIs prevalence.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1071\/sh25171","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,26]],"date-time":"2025-11-26T04:51:32Z","timestamp":1764132692000},"source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["High prevalence of sexually transmitted infections among pregnant women in southern Ethiopia: evidence from routine laboratory diagnosis"],"prefix":"10.1071","volume":"22","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0102-658X","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Meskerem Jisso","family":"Ebido","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"ASchool of Public Health, Hawassa University, Hawassa, Ethiopia."},{"name":"BDepartment of Diagnostic Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium."}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Zeleke","family":"Mekonnen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"CSchool of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia."}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Carl","family":"Lachat","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"DDepartment of Food Technology, Safety and Health, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium."}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Bruno","family":"Levecke","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"EDepartment of Translational Physiology, Infectiology and Public Health, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium."}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Taye","family":"Gari","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"ASchool of Public Health, Hawassa University, Hawassa, Ethiopia."}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Elizaveta","family":"Padalko","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"BDepartment of Diagnostic Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium."},{"name":"FLaboratory of Clinical Biology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium."}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"67","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,15]]},"reference":[{"key":"2025121420211537000_R1"},{"key":"2025121420211537000_R2","unstructured":"World Health Organization (WHO). Sexually transmitted infections; 2025. pp. 1\u2013750. Available at https:\/\/www.who.int\/news-room\/fact-sheets\/detail\/sexually-transmitted-infections-(stis) [cited 28 August 2025]"},{"issue":"5","key":"2025121420211537000_R3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pgph.0003226","article-title":"Asymptomatic infections with Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and Trichomonas vaginalis among women in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis.","volume":"4","author":"Fortas","year":"2024","journal-title":"PLOS Glob Public Health"},{"key":"2025121420211537000_R4","unstructured":"World Health Organization. Progress report of the implementation of the global strategy for prevention and control of sexually transmitted infections: 2006\u20132015. World Health Organization; 2015. pp. 1\u201320."},{"key":"2025121420211537000_R5","unstructured":"Ministry of Health. National guidelines for the management of sexually transmitted infections using syndromic approach. Federal Ministry of Health; 2015. Available at https:\/\/hepius.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/2015-Management-Of-STI-Using-Syndromic-Approach_Hepius.pdf"},{"key":"2025121420211537000_R6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/jia2.25343","article-title":"Diagnosing sexually transmitted infections in resource-constrained settings: challenges and ways forward.","volume":"22","author":"Wi","year":"2019","journal-title":"J Int AIDS Soc"},{"key":"2025121420211537000_R7","unstructured":"World Health Organization. Guidelines for the management of asymptomatic sexually transmitted infections. World Health Organization; 2025. pp. 9\u201362."},{"issue":"12","key":"2025121420211537000_R8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1907","DOI":"10.1111\/1471-0528.16774","article-title":"Trichomoniasis and adverse birth outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.","volume":"128","author":"Van Gerwen","year":"2021","journal-title":"BJOG"},{"key":"2025121420211537000_R9","unstructured":"Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Ministry of Health. National reproductive health strategic plan 2021\u20132025. Addis Ababa (ET): Ministry of Health; 2021. Available at https:\/\/platform.who.int\/docs\/default-source\/mca-documents\/srh-policy-documents\/eth-reproductive_health_strategic_plan_2021-2025.pdf [cited 10 November 2025]"},{"issue":"1","key":"2025121420211537000_R10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"261","DOI":"10.15406\/mojph.2017.06.00159","article-title":"Quality of care for sexually transmitted infections (STIS) syndromic case management at public health facilities of Gamo Gofa zone, Southern Ethiopia.","volume":"6","author":"Gube","year":"2017","journal-title":"MOJ Public Health"},{"key":"2025121420211537000_R11","unstructured":"Burusie A. Quality of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) case management was found poor in health care facilities of Adama town, Eastern Ethiopia 2015; the missed opportunities to control HIV spread. 28th Annual conference, 3\u20135 October 2016. Available at https:\/\/www.hilarispublisher.com\/conference-abstracts-files\/2155-6113.C1.014_024.pdf"},{"issue":"3","key":"2025121420211537000_R12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"251","DOI":"10.1177\/0956462417723545","article-title":"Prevalence and impact of sexually transmitted infections in pregnant women in central Ethiopia.","volume":"29","author":"Sch\u00f6nfeld","year":"2018","journal-title":"Int J STD AIDS"},{"issue":"3","key":"2025121420211537000_R13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0248958","article-title":"Prevalence, risk factors and association with delivery outcome of curable sexually transmitted infections among pregnant women in Southern Ethiopia.","volume":"16","author":"Zenebe","year":"2021","journal-title":"PLoS ONE"},{"issue":"1","key":"2025121420211537000_R14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1155\/2023\/4913058","article-title":"Trichomonas vaginalis and associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care at Bule Hora University Teaching Hospital, Oromia Region, southern Ethiopia.","volume":"2023","author":"Husen","year":"2023","journal-title":"J Parasitol Res"},{"issue":"10","key":"2025121420211537000_R15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0258556","article-title":"Comparison of diagnostic methods and analysis of socio-demographic factors associated with Trichomonas vaginalis infection in Sri Lanka.","volume":"16","author":"Herath","year":"2021","journal-title":"PLoS ONE"},{"issue":"1","key":"2025121420211537000_R16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s12978-022-01395-w","article-title":"Comparison of syndromic versus laboratory-confirmed diagnosis of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Treponema pallidum, infections at the selected health centers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.","volume":"19","author":"Ayalew","year":"2022","journal-title":"Reprod Health"},{"key":"2025121420211537000_R17","unstructured":"Central statistical agency (CSA)[Ethiopia] and ICF. Ethiopia demographic and health survey. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and Calverton, Maryland, USA: Central statistical agency (CSA)[Ethiopia] and ICF; 2016; 1(1)."},{"key":"2025121420211537000_R18","unstructured":"World Health Organization WHO. A user\u2019s guide to the Self Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ). Geneva: World Health Organization; 1994. pp. 1\u201384."},{"key":"2025121420211537000_R19","unstructured":"World Health Organization. Consolidated guidelines on differentiated HIV testing services. World Health Organization; 2024."},{"issue":"3","key":"2025121420211537000_R20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0175166","article-title":"High prevalence of curable sexually transmitted infections among pregnant women in a rural county hospital in Kilifi, Kenya.","volume":"12","author":"Masha","year":"2017","journal-title":"PLoS ONE"},{"issue":"4","key":"2025121420211537000_R21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"324","DOI":"10.1177\/0956462417724908","article-title":"High prevalence of asymptomatic sexually transmitted infections among human immunodeficiency virus-infected pregnant women in a low-income South African community.","volume":"29","author":"Mudau","year":"2018","journal-title":"Int J STD AIDS"},{"issue":"1","key":"2025121420211537000_R22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s12879-018-3380-6","article-title":"A high burden of asymptomatic genital tract infections undermines the syndromic management approach among adolescents and young adults in South Africa: implications for HIV prevention efforts.","volume":"18","author":"Kaida","year":"2018","journal-title":"BMC Infect Dis"},{"issue":"1","key":"2025121420211537000_R23","first-page":"10","article-title":"Prevalence of Neisseria gonorrhea and their antimicrobial susceptibility patterns among symptomatic women attending gynecology outpatient department in Hawassa referral hospital, Hawassa, Ethiopia.","volume":"23","author":"Hailemariam","year":"2013","journal-title":"Ethiop J Health Sci"},{"key":"2025121420211537000_R24","unstructured":"Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Gonococcal infections among adolescents and adults - STI Treatment Guidelines. Sexually Transmitted Infections Treatment Guidelines, Gonococcal infections; 2021. pp. 1\u20138. Available at https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/std\/treatment-guidelines\/gonorrhea-adults.htm [cited 13 July 2025]"},{"issue":"8","key":"2025121420211537000_R25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.7759\/cureus.43464","article-title":"A review of recent advances in our understanding of Neisseria gonorrhoeae.","volume":"15","author":"Mahapure","year":"2023","journal-title":"Cureus"},{"issue":"Suppl 1","key":"2025121420211537000_R26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"534","DOI":"10.1007\/s13224-016-0879-x","article-title":"Study to evaluate targeted management and syndromic management in women presenting with abnormal vaginal discharge.","volume":"66","author":"Meena","year":"2016","journal-title":"J Obstet Gynecol India"},{"key":"2025121420211537000_R27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.54844\/cai.2021.0014","article-title":"Accuracy of gram-stained smears as screening tests for Neisseria gonorrhoeae: a systematic review and meta-analysis.","volume":"9","author":"Khalid","year":"2022","journal-title":"Community Acquir Infect"},{"issue":"1","key":"2025121420211537000_R28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s41182-019-0162-9","article-title":"Prevalence and the evaluation of culture, wet mount, and ELISA methods for the diagnosis of Trichomonas vaginalis infection among Ghanaian women using urine and vaginal specimens.","volume":"47","author":"Adjei","year":"2019","journal-title":"Trop Med Health"},{"issue":"8","key":"2025121420211537000_R29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjopen-2022-063745","article-title":"Seroprevalence of syphilis and its predictors among pregnant women in Buno Bedele zone, southwest Ethiopia: a community-based cross-sectional study.","volume":"12","author":"Befekadu","year":"2022","journal-title":"BMJ Open"},{"issue":"1","key":"2025121420211537000_R30","first-page":"28","article-title":"Sero-prevalence of syphilis among pregnant women attending antenatal care clinic at Jimma Univeristy specialized hospital, Ethiopia.","volume":"5","author":"Fikadu","year":"2019","journal-title":"Int J Res"},{"issue":"2","key":"2025121420211537000_R31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.32553\/ijmbs.v3i2.90","article-title":"Prevalence of syphilis among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic of BULCHANA health center, Shashemene, West Arsi zone, Ethiopia.","volume":"3","author":"Wubete","year":"2019","journal-title":"IJMBS"},{"issue":"4","key":"2025121420211537000_R32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjopen-2014-007371","article-title":"The diagnostic performance evaluation of the SD BIOLINE HIV\/syphilis Duo rapid test in southern Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study.","volume":"5","author":"Shimelis","year":"2015","journal-title":"BMJ Open"},{"issue":"1","key":"2025121420211537000_R33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s13104-019-4106-6","article-title":"Seroprevalence of syphilis and its risk factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care at Felege Hiwot Referral Hospital, Bahir Dar, northwest Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study.","volume":"12","author":"Tareke","year":"2019","journal-title":"BMC Res Notes"},{"key":"2025121420211537000_R34","unstructured":"Central statistical agency (CSA)[Ethiopia]. Demographic and health survey: HIV prevalence report, vol. 2016. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and Rockville, Maryland, USA: CSA and ICF; 2016."},{"key":"2025121420211537000_R35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2147\/HIV.S81481","article-title":"Magnitude of HIV and syphilis seroprevalence among pregnant women in Gondar, Northwest Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study.","volume":"2015","author":"Melku","year":"2015","journal-title":"HIV\/AIDS-Res Palliat Care"},{"issue":"1","key":"2025121420211537000_R36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s12905-022-02059-4","article-title":"HIV is still a major public health problem among pregnant women attending ANC in Referral Hospitals of the Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia: a cross sectional study.","volume":"22","author":"Worku","year":"2022","journal-title":"BMC Women\u2019s Health"},{"key":"2025121420211537000_R37","unstructured":"Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Federal HIV\/AIDS Prevention and Control Office (FHAPCO). HIV\/AIDS National Strategic Plan for Ethiopia 2021\u20132025. Addis Ababa: FHAPCO; 2021. Available at https:\/\/www.prepwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Ethiopia-HIVAIDS-National-Strategic-Plan-2021-25.pdf [cited 10 November 2025]"},{"issue":"5","key":"2025121420211537000_R38","first-page":"1032","article-title":"Prevalence of hypertension, anemia, asymptomatic urinary tract infection, syphilis, hiv and hepatitis B virus infection among pregnant women attending an antenatal clinic at a rural hospital in southern Ethiopia.","volume":"47","author":"Deme","year":"2016","journal-title":"Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health"},{"issue":"5","key":"2025121420211537000_R39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e121","DOI":"10.1097\/QAI.0000000000001252","article-title":"High mobility and HIV prevalence among female market traders in East Africa in 2014.","volume":"74","author":"Camlin","year":"2017","journal-title":"J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr"},{"issue":"5","key":"2025121420211537000_R40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1418","DOI":"10.1007\/s10461-022-03878-0","article-title":"Mobility is associated with higher-risk sexual partnerships among both men and women in co-resident couples in rural Kenya and Uganda: a longitudinal cohort study.","volume":"27","author":"Gutin","year":"2023","journal-title":"AIDS Behav"},{"issue":"2","key":"2025121420211537000_R41","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0263958","article-title":"Women empowerment and sexually transmitted infections: evidence from Bangladesh demographic and health survey 2014.","volume":"17","author":"Jubayer Biswas","year":"2022","journal-title":"PLoS ONE"},{"issue":"1","key":"2025121420211537000_R42","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s12981-020-00305-z","article-title":"Determinants of comprehensive knowledge of HIV\/AIDS among reproductive age (15\u201349 years) women in Ethiopia: further analysis of 2016 Ethiopian demographic and health survey.","volume":"17","author":"Agegnehu","year":"2020","journal-title":"AIDS Res Ther"},{"issue":"5","key":"2025121420211537000_R43","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"381","DOI":"10.1097\/GCO.0000000000000104","article-title":"Digital media and sexually transmitted infections.","volume":"26","author":"Gilliam","year":"2014","journal-title":"Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol"},{"issue":"1","key":"2025121420211537000_R44","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s12978-024-01868-0","article-title":"Influence of socio-contextual factors on the link between traditional and new media use, and young people\u2019s sexual risk behaviour in Sub-Saharan Africa: a secondary data analysis.","volume":"21","author":"Okoye","year":"2024","journal-title":"Reprod Health"},{"issue":"1","key":"2025121420211537000_R45","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s12889-025-21585-y","article-title":"Association between social media use and adolescents\u2019 sexual behaviours: a cross-sectional study among high school students in Drobo, Ghana.","volume":"25","author":"Gyane","year":"2025","journal-title":"BMC Public Health"},{"issue":"2","key":"2025121420211537000_R46","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1353\/jmm.2005.0002","article-title":"Media coverage of sexually transmitted infections: a comparison of popular men\u2019s and women\u2019s magazines.","volume":"7","author":"Larry","year":"2005","journal-title":"J Mag Media"},{"issue":"12","key":"2025121420211537000_R47","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"217","DOI":"10.47191\/ijcsrr\/V3-i12-04","article-title":"Challenges of poverty on sexual reproductive health.","volume":"3","author":"Rapinyana","year":"2020","journal-title":"Int J Curr Sci Res Rev"},{"issue":"9","key":"2025121420211537000_R48","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"626","DOI":"10.1097\/OLQ.0000000000000861","article-title":"Socioeconomic vulnerability and sexually transmitted infection among pregnant Haitian women.","volume":"45","author":"Scheidell","year":"2018","journal-title":"Sex Transm Dis"},{"issue":"1","key":"2025121420211537000_R49","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s12905-020-01145-9","article-title":"Sexually transmitted infections related care-seeking behavior and associated factors among reproductive age women in Ethiopia: further analysis of the 2016 demographic and health survey.","volume":"20","author":"Handebo","year":"2020","journal-title":"BMC Women\u2019s Health"},{"key":"2025121420211537000_R50","unstructured":"Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Bacterial Vaginosis - STI Treatment Guidelines. STI Treatment Guidelines, 2021; 2021. Available at https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/std\/treatment-guidelines\/bv.htm? [cited 13 July 2025]"},{"issue":"1","key":"2025121420211537000_R51","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s12879-025-10578-2","article-title":"Sexually transmitted infections and bacterial vaginosis in women of child-bearing age in Antananarivo, Madagascar: prevalence and risk factors from a cross-sectional study.","volume":"25","author":"Fortas","year":"2025","journal-title":"BMC Infect Dis"},{"issue":"12","key":"2025121420211537000_R52","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e192","DOI":"10.1097\/OLQ.0000000000001537","article-title":"Bacterial vaginosis and its association with incident Trichomonas vaginalis infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis.","volume":"48","author":"Se\u00f1a","year":"2021","journal-title":"Sex Transm Dis"}],"container-title":["Sexual Health"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/connectsci.au\/sh\/article-pdf\/doi\/10.1071\/SH25171\/1834742\/sh25171.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"syndication"},{"URL":"https:\/\/connectsci.au\/sh\/article-pdf\/doi\/10.1071\/SH25171\/1834742\/sh25171.pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,15]],"date-time":"2025-12-15T01:21:24Z","timestamp":1765761684000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/connectsci.au\/sh\/article\/22\/6\/SH25171\/266068\/High-prevalence-of-sexually-transmitted-infections"}},"subtitle":[],"editor":[{"given":"Somesh","family":"Gupta","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"editor","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,15]]},"references-count":52,"journal-issue":{"issue":"6","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,23]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1071\/sh25171","relation":{},"ISSN":["1448-5028","1449-8987"],"issn-type":[{"type":"print","value":"1448-5028"},{"type":"electronic","value":"1449-8987"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,15]]},"article-number":"SH25171"}}