Sexual health service provision in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander settings in far north Queensland: sexual health symptoms and some outcomes of partner notification [online]

Sexual health service provision in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander settings in far north Queensland: sexual health symptoms and some outcomes of partner notification [online] Journal Article

Venereology

• Author(s): Fagan, P
• Published: 2001
• Volume: 14
• ISBN: 1032-1012

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Abstract: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) pose a significant health problem for many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations across Australia. A fundamental aspect of an STI control strategy is the availability and quality of clinical sexual health services. This paper looks at the sexual health services delivered to screen diagnosed cases of chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis, and to their contacts, in primary health care centres in remote areas of Far North Queensland. It describes the prevalence of sexual health symptoms, aspects of partner notification and the level of infection diagnosed in contacts. Ninety two per cent of women and 96% of men with chlamydia and/or gonorrhoea denied any symptoms at screening. One hundred and sixty one clients named 206 contacts, giving a contact tracing ratio of 1.28. Twenty per cent of female and 18% of male index cases named no contacts. The number of contacts an index case named in this setting was similar across gender and age groups, but there were significant differences in the numbers of contacts named according to health care provider. Of the 88 contacts of chlamydia and/or gonorrhoea patients for whom there is follow up information, 32 of 47 (68%) female contacts and 23 of 41 (56%) male contacts returned a positive diagnosis. For 48% of the female and 32% of the male infected contacts, the final diagnosis was either for both infections or for the infection for which they were not named as a contact. The implications of these findings for treatment guidelines in this setting are identified.

• Urls: https://search.informit.com.au/documentSummary;dn=558529981268700;res=IELAPA
• Keywords: Health promotion, Medical technology, Rural health, Rural population