[Characteristics of the patients seen in 1999 by referral centres for sexually transmitted diseases in Ceará (Northeast Brazil)].

Since 1995, in the State of Ceará, in Northeast Brazil, there is a public health project focusing on training and continuing education of health reference teams taking care of patients with sexually transmitted diseases (STD). An information system including a patient's form was worked out and established. The characteristics of the patients seen at consultation in 1999 are described. Ten units provided 1,478 filled forms. Women are more present than men (72% vs 28%). Multipartnership during the last three months is more frequent among males (52%) than among females (5%). Taking antibiotics prior to the first medical advice was frequent in the male population (17%). The main syndromes presented by women were vaginal discharge (81%) and genital warts (19%), whereas with men genital warts (47%) and urethral discharge (43%) were more frequent. The frequency of positive serology for syphilis and HIV among patients presenting an STD syndrome was 7.9% and 1.3%, respectively. It was higher among males (12% and 3%) than among females (7% and 1%). The way the referral facilities are used is different according to sex, the women corning more often spontaneously. The need for accurate etiologic data for each STD syndrome was identified. The analysis of the data resulting from these STD referral units allowed to produce relevant information whose follow-up will be of great interest for both health professionals and decision-makers.