ArticlePloS one2025
Trend of genital ulcers and discharge and associated factors among survey respondents in Tanzania, 2004-2022: Analysis of demographic health surveys.
Article in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
13 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionSexually transmitted infections (STIs) continue to pose a significant public health challenge worldwide, with over 1 million new cases reported daily. STI's are known to negatively impact sexual and reproductive health, increases risk of HIV transmission and acquisitions, as well as impacting mental health, personal wellbeing, and relationships. Information on the trend of STIs using nationally representative data in Tanzania is lacking. We evaluated trends in the prevalence of genital ulcers and discharge using the 2004, 2010 and 2022 Tanzania Demographic Health Survey (TDHS) data. MATERIALS AND
methodsThe TDHS are nationally representative, cross-sectional household surveys that used a two-stage cluster-based sampling design, selecting enumeration areas followed by households. Participants aged 15-49 years who responded to questions on whether they have ever had genital ulcers and/or discharge in the last 12 months prior to the survey were included in this analysis. Survey collected sociodemographic characteristics, HIV testing, STIs symptoms, number of sex partners and recency of sexual activity. We quantified weighted prevalences, and hierarchical mixed effects multilevel logistic regression models that accounted for survey weights, stratification and clustering were used to compute adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for factors associated with genital ulcers/discharge.
resultsAmong 46,481 participants with a median age of 27 (interquartile range: 20-36) years, the overall prevalence of genital ulcers/discharge was 6.7%; (4.3% in 2004, 5.0% in 2010 and 9.3% in 2022). Generally, there was an increased trend in genital ulcers/discharge with the increase being higher between 2010 and 2022 compared to 2004 and 2010. In the full adjusted model, females (aOR=1.68: 95%CI 1.48-1.90) had higher odds of genital ulcers/discharge. Divorced/separated/widowed, young individuals, being sexually active 4 weeks prior to the survey and higher number of lifetime sex partners were all associated with higher odds of genital ulcers/discharge.
conclusionsThere was an increase in the trend of prevalence of genital ulcers/discharge in Tanzania with women and divorced/separated or widowed individuals being disproportionally affected. Identifying reasons for the increase in these STI related symptoms is paramount to strategize and address challenges. Policymakers should prioritize funding for STI diagnostic tools and community education programs. Additionally, healthcare facilities should incorporate routine STI screenings, particularly for high-risk groups like women and those with multiple sexual partners, to curb the rising prevalence.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.