Acceptability and feasibility of testing for sexually transmitted infections among pregnant women in Muscat, Sultanate of Oman.

There are currently no reliable epidemiological data for estimating the burden of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in Oman. STIs such as gonorrhoea and chlamydia are often asymptomatic and associated with sexual and reproductive morbidity. An exploratory study was conducted in an antenatal clinic in Muscat, Oman, to assess the acceptability and feasibility of testing for gonorrhoea and chlamydia. Two hundred and twenty-one women were recruited over 14 weeks between July and October 2020. There were three cases of chlamydia (3/221, 1.36%); no cases of gonorrhoea were identified. Acceptability and feasibility for testing in this cohort of pregnant women were good despite anticipated cultural sensitivities surrounding sexually transmitted infections.