Sexually transmitted diseases in women who aged 50 or older: a retrospective analysis from 2000 to 2017 in a public reference service in Niterói City, Rio de Janeiro State

Abstract

Introduction: Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are more common in young people. There are few studies on STDs in the older population, particularly women. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate and characterize, with epidemiological variables, the prevalence of STDs in the female population over 50 years old, in a public reference service in Niterói city, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. Methods: The study was carried out at the STD Sector of Universidade Federal Fluminense. It was a descriptive retrospective study of quantitative character, carried out with women aged 50 years or older, attended at the aforementioned teaching, research, and extension unit, from 2000 to 2017. Data collection was performed with documentary research from the records of Sexually Transmitted Diseases Sector of Universidade Federal Fluminense. A total of 6,822 records were analyzed, of which 2,363 were of women. Of these, 50 were medical records of women over 50 years old. The variables used were age, education, marital status, use of condom, diagnosis, sexual and behavior characteristics (extramarital relationships and history of homosexuality), skin color, history of STDs, sex education, the number of sexual partners, and family income. Results: There was a higher prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in the form of condyloma acuminata in 48% of cases and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) I, II, or III in 20%. Syphilis occurred in 14%, genital herpes and trichomoniasis in 6% each, HIV in 4%, and gonorrhea in 2% of cases. Notably, 64% of women had no pathological history of STDs, 6% had a previous diagnosis of syphilis, and 6%, of HPV. The predominant age group was 50–59 (78%), with a higher prevalence in white women (54%). Most patients (66%) reported having one fixed partner, were married (54%), and had no history of extramarital relationships (64%). In addition, 64% of patients had no degree of sex education and 56% lived on less than two minimum wages. Most patients (78%) reported not using condoms. In 50% of cases, the level of education was incomplete primary education and only 8% had concluded higher education. Conclusion: STDs were more frequent in white women who did not use condoms. The most prevalent STD was HPV infection, as condyloma acuminata in pardo women. HPV infection as a cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) was the second most common STD in white and pardo women.