A sentinel surveillance system for the control of sexually transmitted
diseases (STD) among
foreigners was developed in Italy in 1991. From January 1991 to June 1995,
4030 foreigners
with a new STD episode were reported. More than one-third of them were
North-Africans.
The most frequent STDs were non-specific urethritis and genital warts among
men, and non-specific vaginitis and latent syphilis among women. The overall
HIV prevalence was 5%, with
large differences in rates in people from different continents. Very high
HIV-positivity rates
were observed among homosexuals and homosexual IDUs from Central–South
America, with
39·1% and 77·8% seropositive individuals respectively.
These data stress the need for increased knowledge of both the spread
of and risk factors for
STDs among immigrants. Particular attention should be paid to counselling
procedures focused
on the prevention of risk behaviours for acquiring STDs and HIV infection.