Sero-Prevalence of Syphilis among Patients with Mental Illness: Comparison with Blood Donors
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Date
2014
Authors
Issa, B.A
Fadeyi, A.
Durotoye, I A.
Yussuf, A.D
Salami, A.K
Shittu, O.A
Ajiboye, P.O
Olawumi, H.O.
Adegunloye, O.A
Mwabuisi, C.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Osun State University
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Mentally ill individuals (MII) are at risk of
acquiring syphilis and other sexually transmitted infections.
This study aimed at determining sero-prevalence of syphilis
among MII and compare them with voluntary blood donors
(VBD) at University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH),
Nigeria.
METHODS: A cross-sectional study done between June, 2010
and June 2011, and involving 350 each of VBDs and MII in and
out-patients of UITH. Serological test was done using venereal
disease research laboratory (VDRL) and the Treponema
Pallidum Haemagglutination (TPHA) kit.
RESULTS: Of the 700 subjects, 324 (92.6%) MII, and 349
(99.7%) VBDswere <55 years; 71 (21.4%) MII were Civil
Servants compared with 96 (27.4%) VBDs. Significantly more
VBDs had higher education than MII (185 or 52.9%, and 140
or 40% respectively). Christians constituted the majority (176
or 50.3%) among MII, and Muslims (210 or 60%) among
VBDs. Significantly more married VBDs (204/206 or 99.0%)
live with spouses; more VBDs consumed alcohol (37 or
10.6%), smoked (19 or 5.4%), and engaged in extramarital
sex (105 or 30.0%). Significantly more MII had blood
transfusion (40 or 11.4); engaged in sex trade (12 or 3.4%);
and more syphilis prevalence (5.4%). In addition, more
syphilitic MII smoked(18 or 94.7%); and all syphilitic MII
had psychotic disorders.
CONCLUSION: The prevalence of syphilis in MII is significantly
higher than among VBDs. Routine screening of MII is
advocated to stem this problem.WAJM 2013; 32(2):210–215.
Description
Keywords
Seroprevalence, syphilis, mental illness, blood donors, Nigeria.
Citation
Olawumi, H.O., Issa, B.A. Fadeyi, A., Durotoye, I.A., Yussuf, A.D., Salami, A.K., Shittu, A.O., Ajiboye, P.O., Adegunloye, O.A., Nwabuisi, C. & Sulyman, D.