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Query: UMLS:C0001175 (AIDS)
 120,706 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Heterosexual intercourse accounts for 80% of HIV transmission in sub-Saharan Africa. Factors facilitating cross-infection may include sexual practices such as the vaginal use of herbs/substances to dry, contract and heat the vagina for enhancement of sexual pleasure. The behavioural-analytic study investigated the use of different types of herbs/substances used by 75 HIV positive and 76 negative sexually active females and the perceived effects of these agents. Individual in-depth interviews were conducted. 99% of all subjects admitted using herbs/substances mainly to contract (94%), dry (58%) and heat (28%) the vagina. There was no significant difference in the pattern of use of herbs and reasons given for using the agents by HIV positive and negative women. 69% of HIV negative and 80% of positive subjects had used a mean of 4 difference types of herbs and/or substances during the last 5 years. 39% negative and 25% positive subjects had experienced intra-vaginal pain and lower abdominal pains during and after sexual intercourse, laceration of the vagina and excessive vaginal secretions after using herbs. These effects were attributed to Wankie (herb or substance) in 70% of the complaints. 14 HIV positive subjects compared with 7 in the negative group had used Wankie. The role of Wankie and similar substances in transmitting HIV cross-infection requires further investigations. From the point of view of AIDS prevention, expectations of a dry and contracted vagina in sexual intercourse may reduce acceptability and use of female and male condoms.
AIDS Care 1995
PMID:The vaginal use of herbs/substances: an HIV transmission facilitatory factor? 865 98

Vaginal symptoms are a common chief complaint amongst women visiting outpatient clinics in rural Haiti. A systematic sample of 206 consecutive women over age 18 with gynaecological symptoms underwent gynaecologic examination and laboratory testing for chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis, HIV infection, trichomoniasis, candidiasis, and bacterial vaginosis. Among 206 women, 174 (84%) presented with vaginal discharge, 165 (80%) with vaginal itching, 123 (60%) with vaginal pain or dysuria, and 18 (9%) with non-traumatic vaginal sores or boils. Laboratory results were positive forChlamydia trachomatisin 5.4% (11/203), syphilis in 3.5% (7/202), HIV in 1.0% (2/200), andNeisseria gonorrhoeaein 1.0% (2/203). Among those that had microscopy, hyphae suggestive of candidiasis were visualized in 2.2% (1/45) and no cases of trichomoniasis were diagnosed 0% (0/45). Bacterial vaginosis was diagnosed in 28.3% (13/46). The prevalence of chlamydia was 4.9 (95% CI: 1.3-17.7) times greater among those 25 years of age and under (10.8%) than those older (2.3%). Chlamydia and bacterial vaginosis were the most common sexually transmitted infection and vaginal condition, respectively, in this study of rural Haitian adult women. The higher risk of chlamydia in younger women suggests education and screening programmes in young women should be considered.
Int J STD AIDS 2014 Aug
PMID:The aetiology of vaginal symptoms in rural Haiti. 2435 16