{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,15]],"date-time":"2026-07-15T01:25:49Z","timestamp":1784078749600,"version":"3.55.0"},"reference-count":33,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"6","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2017,6,20]],"date-time":"2017-06-20T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1497916800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["IJMS"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: Migrant women are one of the most vulnerable population to health problems and well-being. This study aimed at implementing a counseling and preventive strategy for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in undocumented migrant women in Milan, Italy. Methods: Women (ages 18\u201365) were enrolled at the NAGA Centre (2012\u20132013) and asked for a urine sample in order to carry out molecular detection of Human papillomavirus (HPV), Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct), Trichomonas vaginalis (Tv), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (Ng)-DNA. Socio-demographic and sexual behavior information were collected. All HPV\/Ct+ women were offered Pap tests and\/or were prescribed antibiotic treatment. Results: 537\/757 women participated in the study (acceptability rate: 70.9%). Most of the women were from Latin America (45.6%) and Eastern Europe (30.7%); &gt;60% of them had stable partners, did not use contraception and had had at least one pregnancy. The prevalence rates of HPV, Ct, Tv and Ng infections were 24.2%, 7.8%, 4.8% and 0%, respectively. In all, 43.2% of the positive women agreed to undergo a gynecological examination and accepted suitable treatment. Conclusions: This study shows an overall high prevalence of STIs in undocumented migrant women in Milan. The screening strategy based on counseling and urine testing contributed to the successfully high acceptability rate. More appropriate health services that adequately address all aspects of women\u2019s health are required.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms18061311","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2017,6,20]],"date-time":"2017-06-20T10:15:38Z","timestamp":1497953738000},"page":"1311","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":19,"title":["Sexually Transmitted Infections: A Novel Screening Strategy for Improving Women\u2019s Health in Vulnerable Populations"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"18","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7021-2525","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Elena","family":"Frati","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Via C. Pascal 36, 20133 Milan, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ester","family":"Fasoli","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Via C. Pascal 36, 20133 Milan, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2273-6986","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Marianna","family":"Martinelli","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Via C. Pascal 36, 20133 Milan, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Daniela","family":"Colzani","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Via C. Pascal 36, 20133 Milan, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Silvia","family":"Bianchi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Via C. Pascal 36, 20133 Milan, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Luciana","family":"Carnelli","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Lega Italiana per la Lotta contro i Tumori (LILT), Section of Milan, Viale Molise 5, 20137 Milan, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Antonella","family":"Amendola","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Via C. Pascal 36, 20133 Milan, Italy"},{"name":"Coordinated Research Center \u201cEpiSoMI\u201d, University of Milan, Via C. Pascal 36, 20133 Milan, Italy"},{"name":"CIRI-IV, Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, Via A. Pastore 1, 16100 Genoa, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Pierfranco","family":"Olivani","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"NAGA Centre, Associazione Volontaria di Assistenza Socio-Sanitaria e per i Diritti di Cittadini Stranieri, Rom e Sinti, Via L. L. Zamenhof 7\/A, 20136 Milan, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4119-701X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Elisabetta","family":"Tanzi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Via C. Pascal 36, 20133 Milan, Italy"},{"name":"Coordinated Research Center \u201cEpiSoMI\u201d, University of Milan, Via C. Pascal 36, 20133 Milan, Italy"},{"name":"CIRI-IV, Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, Via A. Pastore 1, 16100 Genoa, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2017,6,20]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"United Nation Secretariat (2017, April 03). Populations Facts, No 2013\/2. Available online: http:\/\/www.un.org\/en\/development\/desa\/population."},{"key":"ref_2","unstructured":"(2017, April 03). International Labor Organization. Available online: http:\/\/www.ilo.org\/global\/lang--en\/index.htm."},{"key":"ref_3","unstructured":"(2017, April 03). Osservatorio Regionale per L\u2019integrazione e la multi Etnicit\u00e0 Rapporto 2013. Available online: http:\/\/www.orimregionelombardia.it."},{"key":"ref_4","unstructured":"United Nations Children\u2019s Fund (UNICEF), Policy, Advocacy and Knowledge Management, Division of Policy and Practice (2017, April 03). The Rights of Children, Youth and Women in the Context of Migration. Available online: http:\/\/www.unicef.org\/socialpolicy\/files\/The_Rights_of_Children_Youth_and_Women_in_the_Context_of_Migration_FINAL.pdf."},{"key":"ref_5","unstructured":"(2017, April 03). World Bank Country and Lending Groups. Available online: https:\/\/datahelpdesk.worldbank.org\/knowledgebase\/articles\/906519-world-bank-country-and-lending-groups."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"179","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijgo.2009.03.036","article-title":"Migration and women\u2019s health","volume":"106","author":"Adanu","year":"2009","journal-title":"Int. J. Gynaecol. Obstet."},{"key":"ref_7","first-page":"10","article-title":"Migration: A Social Determinant of the Health of Migrants","volume":"16","author":"Davies","year":"2009","journal-title":"Eurohealth"},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Agudelo-Suarez, A.A., Gil-Gonzalez, D., Vives-Cases, C., Love, J.G., Wimpenny, P., and Ronda-Perez, E. (2012). A metasynthesis of qualitative studies regarding opinions and perceptions about barriers and determinants of health services\u2019 accessibility in economic migrants. BMC Health Serv. Res., 12.","DOI":"10.1186\/1472-6963-12-461"},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"267","DOI":"10.1093\/eurpub\/ckr049","article-title":"Right of access to health care for undocumented migrants in EU: A comparative study of national policies","volume":"22","author":"Cuadra","year":"2012","journal-title":"Eur. J. Public Health"},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"215","DOI":"10.1016\/j.healthpol.2013.10.007","article-title":"Sexual and reproductive health of migrants: Does the EU care?","volume":"114","author":"Keygnaert","year":"2014","journal-title":"Health Policy"},{"key":"ref_11","unstructured":"World Health Organization (WHO) (2017, April 03). Sexually Transmitted Infections. Available online: http:\/\/www.who.int\/mediacentre\/factsheets\/fs110\/en\/index.html."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1186\/1750-9378-2-1","article-title":"Prevalence of human papillomavirus genotypes and their variants in high risk West Africa women immigrants in South Italy","volume":"2","author":"Tornesello","year":"2007","journal-title":"Infect. Agents Cancer"},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"737","DOI":"10.1080\/00016340902952318","article-title":"Prevalence of cervical human papillomavirus infection and types among women immigrated to Sicily, Italy","volume":"88","author":"Giovannelli","year":"2009","journal-title":"Acta Obstet. Gynecol. Scand."},{"key":"ref_14","first-page":"70","article-title":"Assessment of Chlamydia trachomatis infection among Eastern European and West African women immigrants in South Italy","volume":"88","author":"Tornesello","year":"2012","journal-title":"Sex. Trasm. Infect."},{"key":"ref_15","unstructured":"(2017, April 03). Associazione Volontaria di Assistenza Socio-Sanitaria e per i Diritti di Cittadini Stranieri, Rom e Sinti. Available online: http:\/\/www.naga.it\/."},{"key":"ref_16","unstructured":"International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) (2017, April 03). Human Papillomaviruses. Available online: http:\/\/monographs.iarc.fr\/ENG\/Monographs\/vol100B\/mono100B-1.pdf."},{"key":"ref_17","unstructured":"European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) (2017, April 03). Assessing the Burden of Key Infectious Diseases Affecting Migrant Populations in the EU\/EEA. Available online: http:\/\/ecdc.europa.eu\/en\/publications\/Publications\/assessing-burden-disease-migrant-populations.pdf."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"91","DOI":"10.1002\/jmv.23434","article-title":"High performance of a new PCR-based urine assay for HPV-DNA detection and genotyping","volume":"85","author":"Tanzi","year":"2013","journal-title":"J. Med. Virol."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Bianchi, S., Frati, E.R., Panatto, D., Martinelli, M., Amicizia, D., Zotti, C.M., Martinese, M., Bonanni, P., Boccalini, S., and Coppola, R.C. (2013). Detection and Genotyping of Human Papillomavirus in Urine Samples from Unvaccinated Male and Female Adolescents in Italy. PLoS ONE, 8.","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0079719"},{"key":"ref_20","unstructured":"World Health Organization Library (2017, April 03). Comprehensive Cervical Cancer Control: A Guide to Essential Practice\u20142nd ed. Available online: http:\/\/www.who.int\/reproductivehealth\/publications\/cancers\/cervical-cancer-guide\/en\/."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1789","DOI":"10.1086\/657321","article-title":"Cervical human papillomavirus prevalence in 5 continents: Meta-analysis of 1 million women with normal cytological findings","volume":"202","author":"Bruni","year":"2010","journal-title":"J. Infect. Dis."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"7182","DOI":"10.1128\/JB.00895-09","article-title":"Evolutionary dynamics of ompA, the gene encoding the Chlamydia trachomatis key Antigen","volume":"191","author":"Nunes","year":"2009","journal-title":"J. Bacteriol."},{"key":"ref_23","unstructured":"Bruni, L., Barrionuevo-Rosas, L., Albero, G., Serrano, B., Mena, M., G\u00f2mez, D., Mu\u00f1oz, J., Bosch, F.X., de Sanjos\u00e9, S., and ICO Information Centre on HPV and Cancer (HPV Information Centre) (2017, April 03). Human Papillomavirus and Related Diseases in Italy. Summary Report 15 December 2016. Available online: http:\/\/www.hpvcentre.net."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"20203","DOI":"10.2807\/ese.17.25.20203-en","article-title":"Epidemiology of Chlamydia trachomatis endocervical infection in a previously unscreened population in Rome, Italy, 2000 to 2009","volume":"17","author":"Marcone","year":"2012","journal-title":"Euro Surveill."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Newman, L., Rowley, J., Vander Hoorn, S., Wijesooriya, N.S., Unemo, M., Low, N., Stevens, G., Gottlieb, S., Kiarie, J., and Temmerman, M. (2015). Global Estimates of the Prevalence and Incidence of Four Curable Sexually Transmitted Infections in 2012 Based on Systematic Review and Global Reporting. PLoS ONE, 10.","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0143304"},{"key":"ref_26","unstructured":"(2017, April 03). \u201cDonna Dovunque\u201d Project. Available online: http:\/\/www.legatumori.mi.it\/media\/26773\/donna_ovunque.pdf."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"391","DOI":"10.1159\/000333842","article-title":"Polymerase chain reaction amplification of human papillomavirus DNA from archival, Papanicolaou-stained cervical smears","volume":"40","author":"Puranen","year":"1996","journal-title":"Acta Cytol."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"37","DOI":"10.1136\/sti.2005.015362","article-title":"The superiority of polymerase chain reaction over an amplified enzyme immunoassay for the detection of genital chlamydial infections","volume":"82","author":"Jalal","year":"2006","journal-title":"Sex. Transm. Infect."},{"key":"ref_29","unstructured":"(2017, April 03). BLAST-n, Available online: https:\/\/blast.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/Blast.cgi."},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"574","DOI":"10.2353\/jmoldx.2006.060024","article-title":"A fast Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Method for Sensitive and Specific Detection of the Neisseria gonorrhoeae porA pseudogene","volume":"8","author":"Hjelmevoll","year":"2006","journal-title":"J. Mol. Diagn."},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"145","DOI":"10.1080\/10647440500068248","article-title":"Real-time PCR improves detection of Trichomonas vaginalis infection compared with culture using self-collected vaginal swabs","volume":"13","author":"Caliendo","year":"2005","journal-title":"Infect. Dis. Obstet. Gynecol."},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2114","DOI":"10.1001\/jama.287.16.2114","article-title":"The 2001 Bethesda System: Terminology for reporting results of cervical cytology","volume":"287","author":"Solomon","year":"2002","journal-title":"JAMA"},{"key":"ref_33","unstructured":"(2017, April 03). Open Source Epidemiologic Statistics for Public Health. Available online: http:\/\/www.openepi.com."}],"container-title":["International Journal of Molecular Sciences"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1422-0067\/18\/6\/1311\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,11]],"date-time":"2025-10-11T18:39:46Z","timestamp":1760207986000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1422-0067\/18\/6\/1311"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2017,6,20]]},"references-count":33,"journal-issue":{"issue":"6","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2017,6]]}},"alternative-id":["ijms18061311"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/ijms18061311","relation":{},"ISSN":["1422-0067"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1422-0067","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2017,6,20]]}}}