Etiology of sexually transmitted infections among people living with HIV(PLWHIV) within Meme Division in Cameroon: Seroprevalence and factors associated with transmission

Bekindaka Ngemani Obase^1,2,3,4,5*Tanue Elvis Asangbeng⁶Awanakam Honore Awanakam^10,11,7,8,9Achu Chalton Odape¹²Aboudou Habirou KIFOULY^13,14Forgu Esemu Livo^8,9Biyeh Edwin Abi^15,7Jude Daiga Bigoga^16,17Nsagha Dickson¹⁸Rose Leke Fomban⁸Mispa Mbanyamsig Yvala⁷Mitchell Morey⁵David Seidenfeld⁵

• ¹Pan African University Life and Earth Sciences Institute ( Including Health and Agriculture), University of Ibadan, Nigeria, Ibadan, Nigeria
• ²Union for African population studies, Accra, Ghana
• ³Health watch Cameroon, Yaoundé, Cameroon
• ⁴Immunology and Molecular Biology Laboratory of the Biotechnology research center, University of Yaoundé I., Yaoundé, Cameroon
• ⁵American Institutes for Research, Arlington, United States
• ⁶Department of Public Health and Hygiene, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
• ⁷Health Watch Cameroon, Yaounde, Cameroon
• ⁸Immunology and Molecular Biology Laboratory of the Biotechnology research center, University of Yaoundé I., Yaounde, Cameroon
• ⁹Center for Research on Emerging and Re-emerging Diseases, Institute for Medical Research and Medicinal plant studies, Yaoundé, Cameroon, Yaounde, Cameroon
• ¹⁰Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, Yaounde, Cameroon
• ¹¹Union for African Population Studies, Accra, Cameroon
• ¹²Ejed Paramedical and Vocational Training School, Kumba, Kumba, Cameroon
• ¹³Pan African University Life and Earth Sciences Institute (Including Health and Agriculture), University of Ibadan, Nigeria, Ibadan, Cameroon
• ¹⁴Department of Animal Health and Production, University of Abomey-Calavi, Abomey-Calavi, Altantique, Benin, Calavi, Cameroon
• ¹⁵Collage of Public Health, Texila American University-Guyana, Guyana, US Minor Outlying Islands
• ¹⁶Immunology and Molecular Biology Laboratory of the Biotechnology research center, University of Yaoundé I, Yaounde, Cameroon
• ¹⁷Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I., Yaounde, Cameroon
• ¹⁸Department of Public Health and Hygiene, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Yaounde, Cameroon

Introduction Sexually transmitted infections are of great public health importance. The screening of these infections not being part of the routine healthcare package for PLWHIV means most of the infected individuals who are asymptomatic end up being undetected. This study aims to determine the seroprevalence of syphilis, chlamydia, and HBV among PLWHIV in Meme division. Additionally, it aimed to assess the factors associated with STI transmission. Methods A hospital-based cross-sectional design was adopted that recruited a total of 364 PLWHIV from the urban and rural communities in Meme division from December 2024 to April 2025. About 4mL of blood was collected and placed in a sodium citrated tube. The sample was used for ABO blood grouping, syphilis, hepatitis B, and chlamydia screening using serological assays. The data was analysed using SPSS version 25. Fisher's exact test was used to determine the difference in proportions and logistic regression model was used to determine risk factors associated with STI transmission. p-values <0.05 were considered as statistically significant Results The overall seroprevalence of syphilis, HBV and chlamydia infection among PLWHIV from rural areas was 30/150(20%)[95% CI 0.139-0.273], 13/150(8.7%)[95% CI 0.047-0.143] and 6/150(4.0%)[95% CI 0.014-0.085] while in urban area the seroprevalence was 41/214(19.2%) [95% CI 0.141-0.250], 33/214(15.4%)[95% CI 0.108-0.209] and 5/214(2.3%)[95% CI 0.007-0.053] respectively. A couple of the individuals were infected with at least more than one STI. Multivariate analysis shows that females had a lower odd to STI infection (AOR=0.468, 95% CI 0.252-0.867, p<0.016), having multiple sexual partners had a lower odd to STI (AOR=0.346, 95% CI 0.160-0.748, p<0.007), bathing before and after sexual intercourse recorded a lower odd to STI (AOR=0.458, 95% CI 0.272-0.772, p<0.003) as well as those who reported having sex 1-3 times a week also had a lesser odd to STI (AOR=0.526, 95% CI 0.296-0.935, p<0.029). Conclusion Sexually transmitted infection was high among PLWHIV in Meme division with individuals from rural communities having the highest prevalence of infections. The most dominant of these infections was syphilis followed by HBV and lastly Chlamydia.