Diagnosis of sexually transmitted infections is very important considering the\nspread of HIV and the extensive use of highly active antiretroviral therapy\nworldwide. This will assist in planning of treatment schedule in controlling\nthese infections. The study therefore aimed at determining the prevalence of\nsyphilis in HIV positive antiretroviral therapy naive patients in Cape Coast\nand the associated risk factors involved in infection. A cross-sectional study\nwas carried out using initial HIV rapid and confirmation tests, and then Venereal\nDisease Research Laboratory test with the Ultra Rapid Test Kits for\nsyphilis. Demographic data, risky sexual behaviours capable of co-transmission\nof both HIV and Syphilis, were also collected through the use of questionnaires.\nIn all, 150 HIV positive antiretroviral naive subjects were studied and\n15 (10%) were positive for VDRL test, with females (6.00%) and males\n(4.00%), who were mainly within the age group of 20 - 39 years. A significant\nnumber of males (p = 0.019) and females (p = 0.015) participants were not\nsmoking with a fewer number of the females (p = 0.002) having multiple sexual\npartners. Also a smaller number of those who were infected with the bacteria\n(p = 0.004) did not support the control of sexually transmitted infection\n(p = 0.022). The result showed that co-infection of Syphilis in HIV positive\nantiretroviral therapy naive patients persist in Cape Coast Metropolis. An indication\nof prominent STIs which require further study in a larger scale to\nascertain the extent of the co-infection and to formulate policy for treatment\nto helps minimize the rate of infection.
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