Nigel O'Farrell

BACKGROUND: Although high prevalences of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) have been reported among female sex workers (FSWs) in some countries of Asia, there is little data about this issue in Vietnam.

GOAL: The goal of this study was to determine 1) the prevalence of selected STIs and correlates of chlamydia or gonococcal infection, and 2) contraceptive practices, STI-related symptoms, and healthcare-seeking behavior in FSWs in border provinces of Vietnam.

METHODS: Nine hundred ...

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of HIV and associated risk factors among female sex workers (FSWs) in border provinces of Vietnam.

METHODS: 911 FSWs in five border provinces of Vietnam (Lai Chau, Quang Tri, Dong Thap, An Giang, and Kien Giang) were enrolled in a cross sectional study. Subjects were interviewed using a standardised questionnaire about selected sociodemographic and behavioural characteristics, history of STIs, and information about their cohabiting partners ...

OBJECTIVE: To study the microbial aetiology of genital ulcer disease (GUD) in women.

DESIGN: Microbial and clinical assessment of genital ulcers in women.

SETTING: City Health sexually transmitted diseases clinic, King Edward VIII Hospital, Durban, South Africa.

PARTICIPANTS: 100 Zulu women with genital ulceration who had not received antibiotics in the previous two weeks.

RESULTS: Syphilis was diagnosed in 40%, genital herpes in 18%, donovanosis (granuloma inguinale) in 16%, chancroid ...

BACKGROUND: In settings with poor sexually transmitted infection (STI) control in high-risk groups, periodic presumptive treatment (PPT) can quickly reduce the prevalence of genital ulcers, Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) and Chlamydia trachomatis (CT). However, few studies have assessed the impact on HIV. Mathematical modelling is used to quantify the likely HIV impact of different PPT interventions.

METHODS: A mathematical model was developed to project the impact of PPT on STI/HIV ...

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the accuracy of clinical diagnosis in genital ulcer disease (GUD); to devise management strategies for improving the control of GUD and thereby limit the spread of HIV-1 infection.

DESIGN: Clinical and microbiological assessment of GUD in men and women. The index of suspicion, diagnostic accuracy, diagnostic efficiency and positive and negative predictive values of a clinical diagnosis were investigated.

SETTING: City Health Sexually Transmitted Diseases Clinic, ...

OBJECTIVE: To investigate recent trends in reported cases of donovanosis (granuloma inguinale) in Durban, South Africa.

DESIGN: The annual reports of the Medical Officer of Health for Durban 1958-1988 were reviewed to identify cases of donovanosis, genital ulcer disease (GUD) and new patients with sexually transmitted diseases (STD). A rapid staining technique for the detection of Donovan bodies was introduced in 1988.

SETTING: City Health STD Clinic, King Edward VIII Hospital, ...

OBJECTIVES: To describe the prevalence and characteristics of subpreputial penile wetness and to investigate the association between current levels of penile wetness and HIV infection.

METHODS: Male attenders at a sexually transmitted infections clinic in Durban, South Africa were enrolled and treated for their presenting sexually transmitted infection complaint. They were asked to return after 14 days when a structured questionnaire was administered, and the degree of wetness of the ...

OBJECTIVE--To investigate patterns of sexual behaviour in men and women with genital ulcer disease (GUD) and their relevance to HIV-1 transmission. METHODS--A sexual behaviour questionnaire was administered by the same interviewer to all participants who were also entered into a study of the microbial aetiology of GUD. SETTING--City Health Sexually Transmitted Diseases Clinic, King Edward VIII Hospital, Durban, South Africa. PARTICIPANTS--100 Zulu men and 100 Zulu women. RESULTS--36 (%) ...

OBJECTIVE: To study the microbial aetiology of genital ulcer disease (GUD) in men.

DESIGN: Microbiological and clinical assessment of genital ulcers in men.

SETTING: City Health sexually transmitted diseases clinic, King Edward VIII Hospital, Durban, South Africa.

PARTICIPANTS: 100 Zulu men with genital ulcers who had not received antibiotics in the previous four weeks.

RESULTS: Syphilis was diagnosed in 42%, chancroid in 22%, donovanosis (granuloma inguinale) in 11%, genital herpes in ...

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the presentation of HIV infection and AIDS amongst Africans diagnosed with AIDS living in London.

METHODS: Identification of all AIDS cases of African origin attending four HIV specialist centres in South London--Guy's, King's, St George's and St Thomas' Hospitals--up to March 1994, by retrospective review of case notes of all HIV positive patients.

RESULTS: Of 86 patients (53 women, 33 men) studied, 59 (69%) were from Uganda. The most frequent AIDS-defining ...

BACKGROUND: Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection increases acquisition and transmission of HIV, but the results of trials measuring the impact of HSV-2 therapy on HIV genital shedding and HIV acquisition are mixed, and the potential impact of HSV-2 therapy on the incidence of HIV at the population level is unknown.

METHODS: The effects of episodic and suppressive HSV-2 therapy were simulated using the individual-level model STDSIM fitted to data from Cotonou, Benin (relatively ...

OBJECTIVE: To study patterns and determinants of HIV prevalence and risk-behaviour characteristics in different population groups in four border provinces of Viet Nam.

METHODS: We surveyed four population groups during April-June 2002. We used stratified random-cluster sampling and collected data concomitantly on HIV status and risk behaviours. The groups included were female sex workers (n = 2023), injecting drug users (n = 1391), unmarried males aged 15-24 years (n = 1885) and ...

HIV associated stigma is still prevalent throughout Africa despite the spread of the epidemic. Stigma is also attached to sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Despite the importance of STIs, particularly genital ulceration in facilitating heterosexual HIV transmission, policymakers continue to focus mainly on other priorities. It would appear that this lack of public health initiative in tackling genital ulcers is itself an example of stigmatisation. Possible explanations for this ...

OBJECTIVE: To describe factors associated with neurocognitive (NC) function in HIV-positive patients on stable combination antiretroviral therapy.

DESIGN: We undertook a cross-sectional analysis assessing NC data obtained at baseline in patients entering the Protease-Inhibitor-Monotherapy-Versus-Ongoing-Triple therapy (PIVOT) trial.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: NC testing comprised of 5 domains. Raw results were z-transformed using standard and demographically adjusted normative datasets (ND). ...