A new report has pointed to a worrying spike in the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including chlamydia, gonorrhea and trichomoniasis, in adolescent girls in Kenya during the Covid-19 lockdowns.
Preliminary post-pandemic data collected in 2020 shows a dramatic increase in infections as compared to 2019.
Investigations in the ongoing study showed a 55 percent increase in bacterial vaginosis (BV) and a 34 percent increase in STIs. While BV is an inflammatory condition caused by an overgrowth of certain bacteria naturally found in the vagina, it does increase the chances of getting an STI.
Bacterial vaginosis can occur in some cases without penetrative sexual activity. Its non-sexual risk factors include intravaginal and vaginal hygiene practices and smoking.
The report also showed substantial co-infection, with 31 percent of girls with BV having an STI, and 35 percent of girls with an STI also having BV.
The recent findings reported in
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