Gauteng Health Dept urges public to refrain from risky behaviour after recording spike in STIs
According to the department, 40% of men who visited public health facilities in the province were treated for male urethritis syndrome between April and December 2023.
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JOHANNESBURG - The Gauteng Department of Health urged the public to refrain from engaging in risky sexual behaviour, as it recorded a rise in sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
The department said between April and December 2023, 40% of men who visited public health facilities were treated for male urethritis syndrome.
Urethritis is a lower urinary tract infection that inflames the urethra, a fibromuscular tube through which urine and semen exits a man’s body.
It's understood infections such as chlamydia and gonorrhoea are the main cause of urethritis in men.
Department spokesperson Motalatale Modiba said most of these infections were recorded in parts of Johannesburg, the West Rand and Ekurhuleni South.
"Sub-district E and F in Johannesburg has tertiary institutions and high-risk individuals such as sex workers and people who inject with drugs. Merafong is a mining area with a majority of the male population, while Ekurhuleni South and Lesedi have TVET [Technical Vocational Education and Training] colleges, informal settlements, truck stops and hostels."