Sexually transmitted diseases in primary health care unit in Northeastern Brazil

Abstract This study aimed to assess cases of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in a primary healthcare unit in the city of Fortaleza, Ceará. A retrospective study that analyzed 5,590 medical records of STD cases treated between 1999 and 2009. Data were collected from March to June 2010 and analyzed using SPSS 18.0. Young people with high education levels and those with multiple sex partners in the past three months presented with more ulcers and warts. The presence of warts was associated to reactive HIV result, and the presence of ulcers was associated to reactive VDRL result. As for gender, women presented more ulcers, warts, and more than one genital syndrome at physical examination and were more willing to perform VDRL and HIV testing. Men and women with STDs presented behavioral specificities that make them more vulnerable to HIV and syphilis.