Review article
Sexually Transmitted Infections in a Cohort of 15,921 Refugees (1926-1940) in the Region of Imathia, Northern Greece
Spyros N. Michaleas
; Department of History of Medicine and Medical Deontology, Medical School, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece;
Theodoros N. Sergentanis
; Department of Clinical Therapeutics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
Neni Panourgia
; Department of Psychology, Columbia University, New York, USA;
Theodora Psaltopoulou
; Department of Clinical Therapeutics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
Alexandros Stratigos
; First Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Andreas Syggros University Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
Nikolaos V. Sipsas
; Department of Pathophysiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
George Panayiotakopoulos
; 6Department of Pharmacology, University of Patras, School of Medicine, Patras, Greece
Gregory Tsoucalas
; History of Medicine, Anatomy Department, School of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece
Marianna Karamanou
; Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
Abstract
This historical epidemiological study evaluates sexually transmitted
infections (STIs) among Greek refugees during the Interwar period
in the region of Imathia, Central Macedonia, Greece, as a part of the effort
against sexually transmitted infections in Greece (1910-1940). We examined
the archives of the Refugee Hospital of Veroia – the capital of the regional
unit of Imathia (March 5, 1926 to October 27, 1940). This is a report
of previously unpublished primary material comprising a cohort of 15,921
cases, among whom 41 patients were hospitalized on account of syphilis
and 19 on account of gonococcal infection. Descriptive statistics were estimated.
Primary (n=4), secondary (n=2), tertiary (n=13), congenital (n=7),
and not further specified (n=15) cases of syphilis were identified, whereas
a variety of differential diagnosis problems arose. Syphilis and gonococcal
infection/gonorrhea seemed to affect various social groups, as evidenced
by the variety of professions involved. Refugee patients originated from
various areas such as Caucasus, Thrace, Constantinople, Bithynia, and Pontus.
Lack of information and poor healthcare led to spreading of STIs in
Greece. Law 3032/1922 was crucial for the Greek effort against sexually
transmitted infections
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
281295
URI
Publication date:
16.9.2020.
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