4 minute read
Research and Statistics
by IFMSA-Egypt
Definition of STIs STDs vs STIs STDs vs Venereal Diseases Modes of Transmission STIs Situation in Egypt Statistics Related to STIs
Definition of STIs
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They are infections that are passed from one person to another through sexual contact. The contact is usually vaginal, oral, and anal sex. But sometimes they can spread through other intimate physical contacts, like herpes and HPV, are spread by skin-to-skin contact and other STIs like gonorrhea and syphilis can be passed from infected mother to her baby during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Also, some people can be infected via the use of IV drug needles.
STDs vs. STIs
A lot of people think that the two terms are the same because they are often used interchangeably even though they’re different terms. STIs mean sexually transmitted infections and it’s the first leading step to the disease. The causative organism has entered the body, but with no apparent symptoms. STDs mean sexually transmitted diseases and the word "disease " suggests that the person has a medical problem with obvious signs and symptoms. The causative organism has affected the body's normal functions and processes. Simply put, all STDs begin with STIs. However, not all STIs become STDs.
STIs vs Venereal Diseases
The classic definition of venereal disease is a disease only transmitted by sexual intercourse and caused by microorganisms that survive on the skin or mucous membrane or via semen and vaginal secretions during intercourse. The term is now out of date because of changing social conditions and has been replaced by the term STI which is caused by several ways not only through sexual intercourse.
Modes of Transmission
Although the sexual route is the main mode of transmission of STIs, there are other modes such as through contact with infected blood and vertical transmission from mother to child.
Sexual Transmission
Blood Products & Tissue Transfer Mother to Child
Anal Sex Vaginal Sex Oral Sex
During Pregnancy
During Childbirth
STIs Situation in Egypt
Little work has been done to evaluate the magnitude of this problem in Egypt. A study was conducted by Ain Shams University (Ali et. al) between October 1993 and April 1995, and examined 95 cases. To date, it is the only study conducted in Egypt that examined both males and females.
Another study conducted by Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Assiyut, and Damietta in 2020 yielded similar results. However, the study only examined married female patients.
Global Statistics Related to STIs
Source: WHO
More than 1 million STIs are acquired each day Each year, there are an estimated 376 million new infections with 1 of 4 STIs.
More than 500 million people are estimated to have genital infections with the herpes simplex virus (HSV) . More than 290 million women have a human papillomavirus (HPV) infection .
An estimated 240 million people are living with chronic hepatitis B globally. HPV infection causes 570,000 cases of cervical cancer and over 300,000 cervical cancer deaths each year.
Over 350,000 adverse birth outcomes including 200,000 stillbirths and newborn deaths, have been attributed to syphilis.
Activities
Activity 1: Guess which one is the STI, STD or venereal disease
Goals
Materials
Methodology
Expected time
After the activity, the participants will differentiate between 3 terms: STIs, STDs and venereal disease and know when to use each term.
Sticky notes, markers and flipchart
The trainer will give each participant a sticky note containing information about STIs or STDs or venereal diseases and each one has to match the sticky note with one of the three choices written on a flipchart
10 minutes
Activity 2: Which sentence do you think describes the mode of transmission?
Goals
Materials
Methodology
Expected time
Giving accurate information about the mode of transmission of STIs.
Cards with facts & myths written on it
The trainer asks the participants to stand in a circle and will say facts & myths about mode of transmission, if it is a fact , raise your hand and if it is not, don’t move
10 minutes
Activity 3: Guess on the scale
Goals
To assess how aware the participants are of the statistics
Paper & sticky notes (cut to thin pieces)
Statements that include statistics will be written each on a paper except the numbers will be written as a range or scale. Participants will stick their sticky notes on the scale where they think the true answer is. Later each statement is discussed and the true numbers are revealed.
5 minutes
Materials
Methodology
Expected time
Activity 4: Choose the right answer
Goals
Materials
Methodology
Expected time
Assess the background of the participants regarding STIs
Powerpoint
Statements that include the statistics will be displayed missing a word/ number (the name of the organism, the period of time, the statistic...etc) along with choices. Participants will guess the right answer. Works physically or online 15 minutes
Sample Statements
Activity 2:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Some STIs can be acquired through skin-to-skin contact Using condoms can lower your risk of acquiring an STI Anyone can get an STI You can get some STIs more than once You cannot get STIs from oral sex
Activity 3
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2.
3. Number of people who acquire STIs everyday worldwide (1 million) Number of people who have genital infections with the herpes simplex virus (HSV) (500 million) Number of cases of cervical cancer caused by HPV (570,000)
Activity 4
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4. Each ____, there are an estimated 376 million new infections with 1 of 4 STIs: ____, gonorrhea, ____, and trichomoniasis. More than 500 ____ people are estimated to have genital infections with the herpes simplex virus (HSV) . More than 290 million ____ have a human papillomavirus (HPV) infection . ____ pregnant women were infected with syphilis in 2016.
References
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6. 7. 8. 9. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/sexuallytransmitted-infections-(stis) https://www.healthline.com/health/healthy-sex/sti-vs-std https://www.cdc.gov/std/statistics/prevalence-incidence-cost2020.htm https://www.who.int/news-room/feature-stories/detail/fourcurable-sexually-transmitted-infections---all-you-need-to-know https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sexuallytransmitted-diseases-stds/symptoms-causes/syc-20351240 https://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/curable-stis/en/ https://www.medicinenet.com/venereal _ disease/definition.htm https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17214196/ https://aimj.journals.ekb.eg/article _ 123155.html
