Panama study reveals high prevalence of asymptomatic STIs and HIV

sexually transmitted infections HIV prevalence asymptomatic infections public health Panama molecular diagnosis

A new epidemiological study titled ‘La carga oculta de las ITS en Panamá’ (The hidden burden of STIs in Panama) has revealed a significant prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV among studied populations. Conducted by AHF Panama in collaboration with the University of Panama’s Faculty of Medicine, the research analyzed 308 individuals recruited through community screening services.

The findings indicate a combined prevalence of 32.5% for HIV and/or STIs within the analyzed cohort. Additionally, 21.4% of participants tested positive for at least one clinically interpretable pathogen through molecular panel testing. A critical finding of the report is the high presence of asymptomatic infections, where individuals do not exhibit visible clinical symptoms.

Health officials from Panama’s Ministry of Health (Minsa) noted that the silent nature of these infections poses a major challenge to traditional detection models. The results highlight an urgent need to update national screening protocols and shift public health policies toward combined prevention strategies, including pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), vaccination, and expanded diagnostic services.