Common Sexually Transmitted Diseases in Nigeria

From genital ulcers, infertility, difficulty urinating, to horrifying pain – the common sexually transmitted diseases can cause quite a variety of symptoms. Although doctors and researchers keep warning us against these diseases and how important it is to get protected against them, there are still parts of the world, such as Nigeria, where the rates of the common sexually transmitted diseases are incredibly high.

The most common sexually transmitted diseases in Nigeria

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are diseases caused by viruses, bacteria, or parasites, spread by having unprotected sexual intercourse – oral, vaginal, and/or anal. Some STDs do not have a cure, but one thing that all STDs share is the difficult symptoms and the dangerous complications that can happen if their symptoms are left untreated.

Some of the most common STDs in Nigeria are:

  • Chlamydia

Chlamydia is a common STD in Nigeria, affecting around 9.6% of its population. The prevalence of Chlamydia is especially high in Lagos, affecting around 51% of the people – both men and women living there. It is because of the lack of symptoms at the early stage of Chlamydia, that makes this disease so difficult to be detected and properly treated. This also increases the risk of spreading the infection by those who are unaware of either its existence or ignorant about the health risks that it poses. 

  • Gonorrhea

Back in 1963, Lagos was found to be the highest carrier of the gonorrhea infection in the world. Now, decades after, the rates of gonorrhea in Nigeria are still dangerously high, although we see a continuous decline in most countries worldwide. In fact, gonorrhea is considered to be the most common STD in this country. According to recent surveys, the prevalence of gonorrhea is considered to be as high as 28.1%.

  • Syphilis 

Another common STD in Nigeria is syphilis. Many people who got infected with syphilis are asymptomatic, it is easy for this infection to be spreading, while its rates keep on increasing. A 1989 study showed that when tested, 1.5% of the pregnant women in Lagos have tested positive for syphilis. Syphilis is a highly dangerous disease during pregnancy since it can be easily transmitted to the baby in the womb, causing horrifying complications such as premature death.

Conclusion

Nigeria is one of the countries with high rates of STDs. Unfortunately, the people of Nigeria are not speared of any STD; however, there are some STDs such as gonorrhea, syphilis, and Chlamydia, that are more common than others. With that being said, it is of vital importance to spread the word about getting tested, protected, and properly treated against any of these common STDs.

References

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5856484/

https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/4209648

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2486771#:~:text=PIP%3A%20Gonorrhea%20is%20the%20most,be%20as%20high%20as%2028.1%25.&text=Most%20women%20at%20STD%20clinics%20have%20vaginitis%20and%20vaginal%20discharge.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2486771

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