Effects of periodic presumptive treatment on three bacterial sexually transmissible infections and HIV among female sex workers in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.

Background: Sexually transmissible infections (STI) are common in female sex workers (FSW).

Aim: To determine if 3-monthly periodic presumptive treatments (PPT) would reduce the prevalence of STI in FSW.

Methods: In a cohort study conducted between November 2003 and September 2004, FSW were enrolled, counselled and interviewed.

A cross-sectional study of reported symptoms for sexually transmissible infections among female sex workers in Papua New Guinea.

Background: Sexually transmissible infections (STIs) are common in female sex workers (FSWs), most of which are asymptomatic and therefore under-reported. Our aim was to determine the sensitivity and specificity of reported symptoms obtained via questionnaire augmented with leukocyte esterase (LE) urine dipstick test for the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct), Neisseria gonorrhea (Ng) and Trichomonas vaginalis (Tv) detected using polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Methods: In November 2003, a cohort of FSWs was screened for STIs and completed a questionnaire.