2. DEFINITION
• Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are any
“…infections passed on from person to person
through intimate sexual contact”
(Womenshealth.gov., 2009, para. 1).
1/7/2012 Charity Kwartengmaah 2
3. PREVALENCE
• An estimated 19 million people in the U.S.
acquire sexually transmitted infections each
year (Womenshealth.gov., 2009).
• Globally, about 448 new cases of curable STI
occur annually (WHO, 2011).
1/7/2012 Charity Kwartengmaah 3
4. TYPES OF STI PATHOGENS
• There are over 30 different STI pathogens
• STI pathogens fall under:
a. Bacteria – causing STIs
b. Viruses – causing STIs
c. Parasites – causing STIs
1/7/2012 Charity Kwartengmaah 4
5. EXAMPLES OF COMMON STIs
• Gonorrhea,
• Chlamydia
• Syphilis
• Trichomoniasis
1/7/2012 Charity Kwartengmaah 5
6. EXAMPLES OF COMMON STIs
• Genital herpes
• Genital warts
• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and
• Hepatitis B
1/7/2012 Charity Kwartengmaah 6
7. NATURE OF STIs
• Some STIs are curable. Examples are:
a. Syphilis
b. Gonorrhoea
c. Chlamydia and
d. Trichomoniasis
1/7/2012 Charity Kwartengmaah 7
8. NATURE OF STIs
• Four STIs that are still incurable are:
a. Hepatitis B
b. Genital herpes
c. Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)
d. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
1/7/2012 Charity Kwartengmaah 8
9. STIs: PUBLIC HEALTH PROBLEM
• STIs occur in women more than in men. For
example, 80-90% cases of Chlamydial
infections occur in women (CDC, n.d.).
• STIs are more frequent and more severe in
women than men (Womenshealth.gov., 2009).
1/7/2012 Charity Kwartengmaah 9
10. STIs: PUBLIC HEALTH PROBLEM
• The main preventable cause of infertility in
women is STIs (WHO, 2011).
• “In pregnant women with untreated early
syphilis, 25% of pregnancies result in stillbirth
and 14% in neonatal death” (WHO, 2011,
para. 1).
1/7/2012 Charity Kwartengmaah 10
11. DISCUSSION QUESTION
• Why are women more susceptible to sexually
transmitted infections (STIs) than men? How
can women protect themselves from acquiring
STIs?
1/7/2012 Charity Kwartengmaah 11
12. REFERENCES
• CDC (n.d.). STDs in women and infants. Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved on
January 6, 2012 from
http://www.cdc.gov/std/stats10/womenandinf.htm
• WHO (2011). Sexually transmitted infections.
World Health Organization. Retrieved on January
7, 2012 from
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs110/
en/index.html
1/7/2012 Charity Kwartengmaah 12
13. REFERENCES
• Womenshealth.gov (2009). Sexually
transmitted infections (STI) fact sheet.
Retrieved on January 6, 2012 from
http://www.womenshealth.gov/publications/ou
r-publications/fact-sheet/sexually-transmitted-
infections.cfm#a
1/7/2012 Charity Kwartengmaah 13
