Investigating point-of-care diagnostics for sexually transmitted infections and antimicrobial resistance in antenatal care in Zimbabwe (IPSAZ): protocol for a mixed-methods study.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can cause serious morbidity, including pelvic inflammatory disease, and adverse pregnancy outcomes. In low/middle-income countries, limited laboratory infrastructure has resulted in a syndrome-based approach being used for management of STIs, which has poor sensitivity and specificity, leading to considerable underdiagnosis and overtreatment. The WHO has called for development and evaluation of strategies to inform replacement of syndromic management by diagnostic testing.The aim of this project is to evaluate a strategy of point-of-care testing for six STIs in antenatal care (ANC) in Zimbabwe.

Methods and analysis

A prospective interventional study will be conducted in ANC clinics in Harare province, Zimbabwe. One thousand

SUBMITTER: Martin K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10124298 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature