Sexual behaviour and risk of sexually transmitted infections in young female healthcare students in Spain

Validation of the Center of Applied Psychology Female Sexuality Questionnaire (CAPFS-Q)

Instruments for the measurement of human sexuality include self-report measures used to assess sexual functioning, but many of them have not yet been validated. The Center of Applied Psychology Female Sexual Questionnaire (CAPFS-Q) is an original self-report instrument. It has been developed for the study of sexuality in specific non-clinical populations, such as female university students of Medicine and other Health Sciences. The CAPFS-Q includes 26 items, organized as follows: sociodemographic and relevant data (four items); aspects of sexual relations with partner (five items); sexual practices (12 from 13 items); and dysfunctional aspects of sexual relations (four items). CAPFS-Q validity and reliability were examined in a sample of Spanish female university students of Health Sciences. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis (FA) showed a four-factor structure which explained 71.6% of the variance. This initial version of the CAPFS-Q is a reliable measure of women's sexual behavior, with a dimensionality that replicates the initial theoretical content and with adequate indicators of internal consistency, validity, and test-retest reliability. It is easy to administer and to complete.

Malaria and curable sexually transmitted infections in pregnant women: A two-years observational study in rural Burkina Faso

Background

Malaria and curable sexually transmitted infections (STI) are the most common curable infections known to have a severe impact on pregnancy outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa. This study aims to assess the marginal and joint prevalence of symptomatic cases of malaria and STI in pregnant women living in rural settings of Burkina Faso and their associated factors, after more than a decade of the introduction of intermittent preventive treatment (IPT-SP).

Methods

We carried out an observational study in two health districts in rural Burkina, namely Nanoro and Yako. Routine data were collected during antenatal and delivery visits for all women who delivered in the year 2016 and 2017. Logistic regression models were used to assess factors associated with infections.

Results

We collected data from 31639 pregnant women attending health facilities. Malaria, curable STI and their coinfections were diagnosed in 7747 (24.5%; 95%CI: 24.0–25.0%), 1269 (4.0%; 95%CI: 3.8–4.2%) and 388 (1.2%; 95%CI: 1.1–1.4%) women, respectively. In multivariate logistic regression, malaria occurrence was significantly higher in pregnant women < 20 years (Adjusted OR = 2.36; 95% CI: 2.07–2.69) than in women ≥30 years. The prevalence of curable STI was also significantly higher in students (Adjusted OR = 1.93; 95% CI: 1.26–2.95) and compensated workers (Adjusted OR = 1.52; 95% CI: 1.01–2.17) than in uncompensated workers. Women who received no IPT-SP had higher prevalence of malaria (Adjusted OR = 3.33; 95%CI: 3.00–3.70), curable STI (Adjusted OR = 1.96 95%CI: 1.60–2.39) and coinfections (Adjusted OR = 2.11; 95% CI: 1.50–2.95) compared to women who received SP.

Conclusion

Malaria and curable STI remain highly prevalent in rural settings of Burkina Faso, with young pregnant women and women who received no IPT-SP being the most affected. Prevention must be reinforced to improve maternal and infant health.

Sexual disorders beyond DSM-5: the unfinished affaire

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To provide an overview of post-The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th ed. classifications related to human sexuality. After reviewing the literature on classification and clinical practice of sexual disorders, some of the most important contributions on main sexological classifications and frameworks were selected, especially from January 2016 till June 2017.

RECENT FINDINGS

New relevant contributions on psychiatric and sexological classifications and frameworks have been proposed, such as the international classification of diseases 11th revision (ICD-11), research domain criteria, the third edition of the Diagnostic Manual in Sexology and the person-centered psychiatry perspective.

SUMMARY

ICD-11 proposals regarding conditions related to sexual health including sexual dysfunctions and gender incongruence as well as vaginismus, such as sexual pain disorder, paraphilic disorders as mental Disorders. The disorders associated with sexual development and orientation, are proposed for deletion. The other perspectives aforementioned are also presented.

The challenges of preexposure prophylaxis for bacterial sexually transmitted infections

Preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) against HIV is currently the subject of great interest, as clinical trials have shown high efficacy in terms of decreasing transmission among men who have sex with men. Because the prevalence of bacterial sexual transmitted infections (STIs) is increasing within this community, a recent pilot study demonstrated the efficacy of reducing transmission of bacterial STIs by administering PrEP with daily doxycycline to men who have sex with men. This creative initiative raises several questions which are discussed in this review. Relevant information should be drawn from the huge amount of available epidemiologic data to identify those who could benefit from such prophylactic treatment. The choice of antimicrobial agents is crucial, as antimicrobial susceptibility of STI agents is heterogeneous. Finally, we discuss challenges to improve the control of STIs through the use of PrEP.