Frequency, risk factors, and complications of induced abortion in ten districts of Madagascar: results from a cross-sectional household survey.

Background: Madagascar has restrictive abortion laws with no explicit exception to preserve the woman's life. This study aimed to estimate the incidence of abortion in the country and examine the methods, consequences, and risk factors of these abortions.

Methods: We interviewed 3179 women between September 2015 and April 2016.

Socio-demographic and behavioural factors associated with high incidence of sexually transmitted infections in female sex workers in Madagascar following presumptive therapy.

Background: Too little is known about the many women who generate income in Madagascar by trading sex.

Methods: Clinical and laboratory exams were offered to 493 non-care seeking female sex workers (SWs) in Antananarivo and 493 in Tamatave. SWs were recruited by peers in their community; they were interviewed, counselled and treated for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) at recruitment and re-evaluated 2 months later.

Evidence-based treatment guidelines for sexually transmitted infections developed with and for female sex workers.

Background: Sex work is frequently one of the few options women in low-income countries have to generate income for themselves and their families. Treating and preventing sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among sex workers (SWs) is critical to protect the health of the women and their communities; it is also a cost-effective way to slow the spread of HIV. Outside occasional research settings however, SWs in low-income countries rarely have access to effective STI diagnosis.

Laboratory diagnosis of sexually transmitted infections in women with genital discharge in Madagascar: implications for primary care.

Women seeking care in Madagascar for genital discharge (n = 1,066) were evaluated for syphilis seroreactivity; bacterial vaginosis (BV) and trichomoniasis. Chlamydial infection was assessed by ligase chain reaction (LCR) and by direct immunofluorescence (IF); gonorrhoea by direct microscopy, culture and LCR. Leucocytes were determined in endocervical smears and in urine using leucocyte esterase dipstick (LED).

Sexually transmitted infections and associated socio-demographic and behavioural factors in women seeking primary care suggest Madagascar's vulnerability to rapid HIV spread.

Objectives: To examine sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and associated socio-demographic and behavioural factors in women seeking care for genital discharge syndrome in Antananarivo, Madagascar.

Methods: One thousand and sixty-six consecutive symptomatic women were interviewed and examined; bacterial vaginosis (BV), vulvovaginal candidiasis, trichomoniasis (TV), cervical infection (CI) due to chlamydial or gonococcal infections, and syphilis seroreactivity were determined by laboratory diagnosis. Associations between STIs and individual characteristics were evaluated using bivariate and logistic regression analyses.