Treating Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
Gaps in Research
- 1.
- Interventions are needed to screen and treat both male and female sexual partners for STIs.
- 2.
- While treatment of all STIs can improve everyone’s health and well-being, further interventions are needed to screen and treat ulcerative STIs, which have the most impact on HIV susceptibility and transmission.
1. Interventions are needed to screen and treat both male and female sexual partners for STIs. Studies found that efforts are needed to reach both men and women: if both partners were not treated, women can get recurrent infections.
Gap noted, for example, in Uganda (Kacwamu, 2008); South Africa (Fox et al., 2007).
2. While treatment of all STIs can improve everyone’s health and well-being, further interventions are needed to screen and treat ulcerative STIs, which have the most impact on HIV susceptibility and transmission. Studies have found however, that, to date, regimens to suppress genital herpes and other STIs have not been effective in reducing HSV transmission.
Gap noted, for example, in Uganda and Zimbabwe (Van der Pol et al., 2008); Tanzania (Watson-Jones et al., 2008); India (Reynolds et al., 2006b); generally (Klausner, 2009).