Although human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) rates are increasing rapidly in Asia, a full understanding of the extent of other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in many of these areas is lacking. There have been anecdotes of rising rates of STDs in Mongolia, a country thus far relatively unaffected by HIV. To further the understanding of STDs, a prevalence study was conducted in the STD clinic in Ulaanbaatar, the capital and largest city in Mongolia. Among 260 patients, the prevalence of gonorrhoea, chlamydia and syphilis was 31.1%, 8.1% and 8.6% respectively for males and 10.3%, 9.9% and 6.0% for females. Sixty-seven per cent of females had trichomoniasis and 19.7% of males had non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU). Forty-two per cent of gonococcal isolates had plasmid mediated resistance to penicillin, and chromosomal resistance to penicillin, tetracycline, and ciprofloxacin was documented. No patients were infected with HIV. STDs are a significant problem in Mongolia. Improved control efforts are urgently needed to prevent the emergence of HIV.
PIP: Situated between Russia and China, two countries with growing rates of HIV prevalence, Mongolia is a country with a population of 2.3 million people. Although there is only 1 known case of HIV infection in Mongolia, HIV is spreading rapidly in Asia. The prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) was assessed among 137 men and 123 women of mean ages 26 and 28 years, respectively, attending the public health STD clinic in Ulaanbaatar, the capital and largest city of Mongolia. Overall, study subjects were aged 15-62 years and mainly from urban areas. Only 1 man and 1 woman admitted to having sex with a same-sex partner. 7% of men and 10% of women consistently used condoms, and 45% of men and 33% of women reported ever having had STDs. 31.1%, 8.1%, and 8.6% of men and 10.3%, 9.9%, and 6.0% of women were infected with gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis, respectively. 19.7% of men had nongonococcal urethritis and 67% of women had trichomoniasis. 42% of gonococcal isolates were plasmid-mediated resistant to penicillin, while chromosomal resistance to penicillin, tetracycline, and ciprofloxacin was observed. Even though no patient was infected with HIV, improved control efforts are urgently needed to prevent the spread of HIV in Mongolia given the existence and communication of STDs in the country.