Epidemiological analysis of sexually transmitted diseases in 2006 in Zhejiang Province

Objective This analysis was made to understand the incidence trends and epidemiological features of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in 2006 in Zhejiang Province and provide a scientific basis on which to develop the strategies for the prevention and control of the diseases in the future throughout the province. Methods The National STDs Database Management System and the statistics software Excel 2000 were used to analyze the monthly(yearly) report forms on STDs epidemiological information submitted from the 11 prefectures of the province. Results A total of 114 865 cases involving seven types of STDs were reported in 2006, including 46 680 males and 68 185 females with a ratio of male to female of 1∶1.46. The number of the cases in 2006 increased by 7.25%, as compared with that in 2005(107 098 cases). The total reported incidence rate of STDs was 241.24/lakh in the province, with lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) highest in terms of the amplitude of increase(113.33%), followed by syphilis (45.24%). The incidence of chancroid was reduced by 10.00%, with gonorrhea incidence having a decrease by 6.10%, ranked the second in the amplitude of incidence reduction. Hangzhou, Wenzhou, Jinhua and Ningbo were ranked as the top four regions in terms of the reported cases. Conclusion Compared with those in 2005, the reported cases of STDs are on the rise in Zhejiang in 2006, with the cases of nongonococcal urethritis(cervicitis) (NGU) ranked the top of the seven STDs and those of syphilis reported, exceeding gonorrhea in the number, ranked the second, which shows that the STDs epidemic patterns are changing.