Incidence of sexually transmitted diseases among massage parlour employees in Bangkok, Thailand.

The results of a study of sexually transmitted disease (STD) incidence and related risk factors for STDs among uninfected women at high risk of contracting STD infection in Bangkok are reported. Comprising the control arm of a randomized controlled trial of a vaginal contraceptive sponge and STD incidence, 163 women aged 18 or older were recruited from 4 massage parlours and followed for evidence of new infections over a 6-week period or until cervical infection occurred. Gynaecological examinations were performed and endocervical specimens were obtained at weekly intervals, at which time women returned coital logs recording their number of sexual partners. There were 76.5 new STD infections per 100 woman-months, including 31.7 with gonorrhoea, 43.1 with chlamydia, 1.8 of trichomoniasis and 3.5 of candidiasis. None of the risk factors examined were good predictors of STD infection in this population, which may be related to the restricted admission criteria in the study.