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Sexually Transmitted Infections: A Novel Screening Strategy for Improving Women's Health in Vulnerable Populations.
Int J Mol Sci. 2017 Jun 20; 18(6)IJ

Abstract

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 18-65) were enrolled at the NAGA Centre (2012-2013) 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%); >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's health are required.

Links

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Authors+Show Affiliations

Frati ER
Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Via C. Pascal 36, 20133 Milan, Italy. elena.frati@unimi.it.
Fasoli E
Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Via C. Pascal 36, 20133 Milan, Italy. ester.fasoli@unimi.it.
Martinelli M
Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Via C. Pascal 36, 20133 Milan, Italy. marianna.martinelli@unimi.it.
Colzani D
Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Via C. Pascal 36, 20133 Milan, Italy. daniela.colzani@unimi.it.
Bianchi S
Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Via C. Pascal 36, 20133 Milan, Italy. silvia.bianchi@unimi.it.
Carnelli L
Lega Italiana per la Lotta contro i Tumori (LILT), Section of Milan, Viale Molise 5, 20137 Milan, Italy. l.carnelli@legatumori.mi.it.
Amendola A
Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Via C. Pascal 36, 20133 Milan, Italy. antonella.amendola@unimi.it. Coordinated Research Center "EpiSoMI", University of Milan, Via C. Pascal 36, 20133 Milan, Italy. antonella.amendola@unimi.it. CIRI-IV, Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, Via A. Pastore 1, 16100 Genoa, Italy. antonella.amendola@unimi.it.
Olivani P
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. p.olivani@libero.it.
Tanzi E
Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Via C. Pascal 36, 20133 Milan, Italy. elisabetta.tanzi@unimi.it. Coordinated Research Center "EpiSoMI", University of Milan, Via C. Pascal 36, 20133 Milan, Italy. elisabetta.tanzi@unimi.it. CIRI-IV, Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, Via A. Pastore 1, 16100 Genoa, Italy. elisabetta.tanzi@unimi.it.

MeSH

AdolescentAdultAgedChlamydia InfectionsChlamydia trachomatisFemaleGenotyping TechniquesGonorrheaHumansItalyMiddle AgedNeisseria gonorrhoeaePapillomaviridaePapillomavirus InfectionsPregnancyPrevalenceRisk FactorsSexual BehaviorSexual HealthSexually Transmitted DiseasesSocial ConditionsTrichomonas VaginitisTrichomonas vaginalisVulnerable PopulationsWomen's HealthYoung Adult

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article

Language

eng

PubMed ID

28632191

Citation

Frati, Elena R., et al. "Sexually Transmitted Infections: a Novel Screening Strategy for Improving Women's Health in Vulnerable Populations." International Journal of Molecular Sciences, vol. 18, no. 6, 2017.
Frati ER, Fasoli E, Martinelli M, et al. Sexually Transmitted Infections: A Novel Screening Strategy for Improving Women's Health in Vulnerable Populations. Int J Mol Sci. 2017;18(6).
Frati, E. R., Fasoli, E., Martinelli, M., Colzani, D., Bianchi, S., Carnelli, L., Amendola, A., Olivani, P., & Tanzi, E. (2017). Sexually Transmitted Infections: A Novel Screening Strategy for Improving Women's Health in Vulnerable Populations. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 18(6). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms18061311
Frati ER, et al. Sexually Transmitted Infections: a Novel Screening Strategy for Improving Women's Health in Vulnerable Populations. Int J Mol Sci. 2017 Jun 20;18(6) PubMed PMID: 28632191.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - JOUR T1 - Sexually Transmitted Infections: A Novel Screening Strategy for Improving Women's Health in Vulnerable Populations. AU - Frati,Elena R, AU - Fasoli,Ester, AU - Martinelli,Marianna, AU - Colzani,Daniela, AU - Bianchi,Silvia, AU - Carnelli,Luciana, AU - Amendola,Antonella, AU - Olivani,Pierfranco, AU - Tanzi,Elisabetta, Y1 - 2017/06/20/ PY - 2017/04/03/received PY - 2017/06/06/revised PY - 2017/06/15/accepted PY - 2017/6/21/entrez PY - 2017/6/21/pubmed PY - 2018/3/27/medline KW - STI screening KW - prevalence KW - sexual health KW - sexually transmitted infections KW - undocumented migrant women JF - International journal of molecular sciences JO - Int J Mol Sci VL - 18 IS - 6 N2 - 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 18-65) were enrolled at the NAGA Centre (2012-2013) 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%); >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's health are required. SN - 1422-0067 UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/28632191/Sexually_Transmitted_Infections:_A_Novel_Screening_Strategy_for_Improving_Women's_Health_in_Vulnerable_Populations_ DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -
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