The World Health Organisation (WHO) has introduced the world’s first global database dedicated to tracking the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), providing countries with a centralised source of reliable data to strengthen disease surveillance and public health responses.
The organisation said the open-access platform compiles STI prevalence data from low- and middle-income countries collected from 2010 onwards. It brings together both published and previously unpublished findings, giving governments, researchers and health partners easier access to quality-assured information.
WHO explained that the database is designed to improve understanding of STI trends across different populations and support evidence-based policies and interventions aimed at reducing infections.
Speaking on the launch, WHO’s Director of the Department for HIV, Tuberculosis, Hepatitis and Sexually Transmitted Infections, Dr. Tereza Kasaeva, described the initiative as a major step toward improving the global response to sexually transmitted infections.
She said the publicly accessible database would help countries strengthen surveillance systems, develop targeted prevention programmes and accelerate efforts to reduce the burden of STIs.
The platform currently covers five sexually transmitted infections: chlamydia, gonorrhoea, herpes simplex virus type 2, syphilis and trichomoniasis. WHO said it plans to expand the database as more evidence becomes available.
As of June 2026, the database contains information from 766 studies, representing 2,453 prevalence data points collected from a wide range of groups, including pregnant women, adolescents, household surveys, sex workers, STI clinic attendees and other populations at higher risk.
According to WHO, only studies that met strict quality standards were included. These standards required clearly defined study populations, adequate methodological details, sample collection carried out mainly from 2010 onwards and at least 100 participants.
The organisation added that the database will be updated regularly and will serve policymakers, researchers, national disease control programmes, community organisations and funding agencies by providing better access to reliable STI data for planning and decision-making.
