Abstract:
To evaluate whether differences in demographic or behavioural
factors might explain differences in reported or
diagnosed sexually transmitted infections (STI), we have
compared data from 1097 Tanzanian and Norwegian
STI patients. Most demographic data were similar,
whereas some behavioural data differed. Norwegian
patients reported significantly higher numbers of sexual
partners than Tanzanian. Thirty-three percent of Tanzanian
patients tested positive for HIV antibodies, females
more often (43%) than males (26%). Approximately onethird
and two-thirds of the female HIV-positive Tanzanian
STI patients had already seroconverted at the age
of 25 and 30 years, respectively. The national differences
encountered probably reflect cultural differences,
different panoramas of STI and a lower accessibility to
optimal health services in Tanzania. Lack of expected
statistical associations between some of the data in the
Tanzanian STI group might question the validity of the
retrospectively collected data in this group, or indicate
that questions not included in the questionnaire might be
of importance.
