London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) continue to pose a significant public health challenge, especially among young women under 25, who are more vulnerable due to both biological and social factors. Despite Ghana’s predominantly youthful population, data on STI prevalence in adolescent girls and young women remain limited.

This national cross-sectional study assessed the prevalence and associated risk factors of reproductive tract infections including STIs and Candida species among 2,978 adolescent girls and young women aged 15 to 24 years. Participants were recruited from 23 institutions across nine regions of Ghana, including senior high schools, universities, female sex worker networks, and head porter communities.

Findings revealed a substantial burden of undiagnosed infections: more than 40% of participants tested positive for at least one STI, with the vast majority showing no symptoms. Candida species were the most frequently detected pathogens, found in 57.5% of participants. Among these, Candida albicans accounted for 65.6% of isolates. Other non-albicans species identified included C. glabrata (14.4%), C. tropicalis (10%), C. krusei (6.7%), and C. parapsilosis (3.3%). No cases of C. dubliniensis or C. lusitaniae were found.

Among the bacterial STIs, Chlamydia trachomatis was the most prevalent (23.2%), followed by Neisseria gonorrhoeae (8.0%), Trichomonas vaginalis (7.1%), and Mycoplasma genitalium (1.4%). The high rate of asymptomatic infections highlights critical gaps in current syndromic management strategies and highlights the need for expanded diagnostic screening among young women in Ghana.

Speaker

Dr Laud Anthony Basing

Dr Laud Anthony Basing is a scientist, engineer, and entrepreneur with a background in microbiology and biomedical engineering. He is a lecturer at the Department of Medical Diagnostics, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), and the founder and CEO of Incas Diagnostics, a Ghana-based biotech company focused on developing point-of-care diagnostics for human and agricultural health.

Dr Basing's research centers on simple, affordable diagnostics for infectious diseases, particularly sexually transmitted infections and neglected tropical diseases that affect women and children in Africa. He has led and collaborated on numerous international projects with institutions such as the WHO, University of Liverpool, and Purdue University. His current work includes a national study on STIs among Ghanaian youth and an EDCTP-funded program on yaws diagnostics in Ghana.

He has received multiple international recognitions for innovation in diagnostics and has contributed to global health policy through several WHO technical working groups. Dr. Basing is deeply committed to advancing local manufacturing and diagnostic self-sufficiency in Africa.

Event notices

• Please note this event is virtual only.
• Please note that the recording link will be listed on this page when available.