According to a recent surveillance of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) carried out from January to December 2022 in the Mwanza district, it was discovered that nearly half (49%) of those seeking STI treatment in the district get re-infected. The study was conducted by Tamara Mkandawire, a trained field epidemiology officer who is also a senior nursing officer for Mwanza district health office. She sampled three of the four health facilities in the district, including Thambani, Kunenekude, and Mwanza district hospital. The research also found that 21% of those seeking STI treatment were HIV positive.
Mkandawire further notes that 63% of those seeking health services for STIs were women, indicating that more men are shunning treatment, thus leading to more re-infections. She plans to share the findings with the district authorities and other stakeholders to prompt action to address the challenges.
Mkandawire credits her training in epidemiology for enabling her to analyze data more efficiently and easily detect challenges in the health sector. Similarly, Grace Funsani, the chief epidemiology officer for the Ministry of Health's Public Health Institute of Malawi (PHIM), says that the ministry is training more health and agriculture workers in field epidemiology to tackle this issue. Funsani adds that the ministry has already offered field epidemiology training for frontline staff in both the Ministry of Agriculture and Health, totaling about 200 workers.
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) is one of the partners supporting PHIM through the International Training and Education Center for Health (ITECH) for the field epidemiology training program for the frontline staff. This partnership is expected to improve the skills of the frontline staff in detecting and responding to disease outbreaks, including STIs.
The findings of the surveillance in Mwanza district highlight the urgent need for effective and targeted interventions to tackle the issue of STIs, particularly among men who appear to be shunning treatment. STIs are a significant public health concern, with long-term health consequences for individuals, communities, and societies. STIs can cause infertility, ectopic pregnancy, and increase the risk of HIV transmission, among other complications.
One effective way to address the issue of STIs is to promote comprehensive and age-appropriate sexual education programs, including information about the importance of using condoms, regular STI testing, and seeking prompt treatment for STIs. Health education should target both men and women to reduce stigma around STIs and encourage individuals to seek treatment when needed.
In addition, health authorities should consider increasing access to affordable, accessible, and high-quality STI testing and treatment services, including in rural and remote areas where access to health services may be limited. The provision of free or subsidized STI testing and treatment services can also help to reduce the burden of STIs and promote better health outcomes in communities.
In conclusion, the high rate of STI re-infection in Mwanza district is a cause for concern, and urgent action is needed to address the issue. Effective interventions should be implemented to encourage more men to seek treatment for STIs, while also promoting comprehensive sexual education programs and improving access to affordable, high-quality STI testing and treatment services. With the right interventions, it is possible to reduce the prevalence of STIs in Mwanza district and improve the health outcomes of the affected individuals and communities.