Harare, 9 April 2010- (The Herald)-Harare Province recorded an increase in sexually transmitted infections over previous years, the National AIDS Council report for 2009 shows.

Some 15 000 women and 9 000 men were treated for STIs in 2009; an increase of more than 150 percent from the 2008 figures of a total of 8 500 cases.

NAC Provincial AIDS co-ordinator for Harare, Mr Adonija Muzondiona, said the 15-24 year age group was the most prone to contracting STIs.

"Many youth in Harare become sexually active at an early age and put themselves at risk of contracting STIs, which also increases the chances of getting HIV," he said.

He said most girls contract STIs because they are in child-headed families and need to fend for their siblings, resulting in them indulging in sexual activities at an early age.

He also said STIs facilitate transmission of HIV, particularly in cases of syphilis, chancroid and genital herpes.

Mr Muzondiona said other factors contributing to increasing STI cases were risky behaviour among teenagers and young adults as a result of ignorance, harmful cultural practices, economic insecurity — mainly among females — and loss of traditional support systems.

He said it was, however, ironic that such large numbers were being treated for STIs and yet 155 000 female and 885 000 male condoms were distributed in Harare.

"After distribution, the issue of condom use is debatable as we do not know whether they are made useful or not," Mr Muzondiona said.

Of the nine sites that provide anti-retroviral treatment in Harare, all of them also offer treatment for STIs and other opportunistic infections. Mr Muzondiona said more programmes targeting young people were essential for promoting increased access to information and services.

Health experts have found that preventing and treating STIs is a crucial part of containing HIV and AIDS.

Online at: http://www.herald.co.zw/inside.aspx?sectid=17141&cat=1