Chlamydia, gonorrhoea, trichomoniasis and syphilis: global prevalence and incidence estimates, 2016
Overview
Sexually transmitted infections are among the most common communicable conditions and affect the health and lives of people worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO) periodically generates estimates to gauge the global burden of four of the most common curable sexually transmitted infections: chlamydia (etiological agent: Chlamydia trachomatis), gonorrhoea (Neisseria gonorrhoeae), trichomoniasis (Trichomonas vaginalis) and syphilis (Treponema pallidum). The estimates provide evidence for programme improvement, monitoring and evaluation.
These sexually transmitted infections cause acute urogenital conditions such as cervicitis, urethritis, vaginitis and genital ulceration, and some of the etiological agents also infect the rectum and pharynx. Chlamydia and gonorrhoea can cause serious short- and long-term complications, including pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy, infertility, chronic pelvic pain and arthritis, and they can be transmitted during pregnancy or delivery. Syphilis can cause neurological, cardiovascular and dermatological disease in adults, and stillbirth, neonatal death, premature delivery or severe disability in infants. All four infections are implicated in increasing the risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) acquisition and transmission. Moreover, people with sexually transmitted infections often experience stigma, stereotyping, vulnerability, shame and gender-based violence.
In May 2016, the World Health Assembly adopted the Global health sector strategy on sexually transmitted infections, 2016–2021.This strategy includes rapid scale-up of evidence-based interventions and services to end sexually transmitted infections as public health concerns by 2030. The strategy sets targets for reductions in gonorrhoea and syphilis incidence in adults and recommends the establishment of global baseline incidences of sexually transmitted infections by 2018.
The primary objectives of this study were to estimate the 2016 global and regional prevalence and incidence of chlamydia, gonorrhoea, trichomoniasis and syphilis in adult women and men.