Contact tracing for sexually transmitted infections in New South Wales, Australia

Sexual Health ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa McCarthy ◽  
Lewis J. Haddow ◽  
Virginia Furner ◽  
Adrian Mindel
Keyword(s):  
Sexually Transmitted Infections ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Included Patient ◽  
Current Contact ◽  
Sexual Health Clinics

Background: Contact tracing is an important strategy in the control of sexually transmitted infections (STI) because it encourages individuals who may be unaware they have been exposed to an infection to be tested and treated. The aim of this study was to review STI contact tracing procedures in NSW by sexual health clinics (SHC), public health units (PHU) and general practitioners (GP). Methods: A questionnaire study carried out in 2004–2005 of SHC, PHU and a random sample of GP in NSW. SHC and PHU participated in structured interviews and GP completed questionnaires at educational workshops or through a mail-out. Interviews and questionnaires addressed current contact tracing practice and methods of improving the service. Results: All 35 SHC, 6/18 (33%) PHU and 172/212 (81%) of the GP who responded to the survey undertook contact tracing for STI. Chlamydia was the STI most commonly traced by SHC (34/35, 97%) and GP (165/172, 96%). HIV was the STI most commonly traced by PHU (5/6, 83%). Only 23/172 (13%) GP were familiar with the ‘Australasian contact tracing manual’. The commonest barriers to tracing for SHC and GP included patient reluctance (SHC 60%, GP 71%), and the lack of contact details for partners (SHC 46%, GP 60%). GP identified the availability of information for patients (82%) and more training (55%) as necessary resources for optimal contact tracing. Conclusions: SHC and GP frequently undertook contact tracing for some STI; PHU do so less frequently. Barriers to contact tracing are similar for all health-care providers. For GP, there is a need for increased training and the development of written policies and agreed pathways for referral.

46. INNOVATION AND DESIGN: IMPROVING CONTACT TRACING IN SEXUAL HEALTH CLINICS

Sexual Health ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 302
Author(s):  
N. Edmiston ◽  
B. Henry ◽  
K. Barker ◽  
S. Aitken
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Health ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Transmitted Infection ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Health Clinics ◽  
Current Contact ◽  
Novel Approaches ◽  
Sexual Health Clinics ◽  
Ideal Method ◽  
Index Cases

Contact tracing (CT) is an integral part of sexually transmitted infection (STI) management. Although routinely conducted in most sexual health clinics (SHCs), the methods used may vary. To improve CT required novel approaches. First we audited the outcomes of current contact tracing methods. A major finding of this audit was that while CT was routinely recommended, outcomes were poorly recorded. We developed a sticker to be placed in the charts of clients with a traceable STI. This indicated the number of contacts requiring notification, and how many had been notified and treated at our clinic. This enabled a standardised approach to CT records and improved ability to audit outcomes. It also focused clinicians on the need to ensure followup of CT and to offer assistance when CT had not been done. Next, a brochure was developed to give to clients when diagnosed with a traceable STI. This brochure mentioned the reasons for contacting patterns, dispelled some myths that have been found in previous studies about telling partners and provided ideas about how to tell partners. In conjunction with this a SMS was developed, that could be sent to index cases' mobile phones, allowing them to forward the SMS to partners. This was seen as an ideal method for young people who frequently had mobile numbers of past partners but little other contact details. It was also able to be simple and quick. The next step will be reauditing the CT outcomes once the SMS and brochure are in established use.

Communication Between Asian American Adolescents and Health Care Providers About Sexual Activity, Sexually Transmitted Infections, and Pregnancy Prevention

2016 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 205-226 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessie Zhao ◽  
May Lau ◽  
David Vermette ◽  
David Liang ◽  
Glenn Flores
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Sexual Health ◽  
Sexually Transmitted Infections ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Asian American ◽  
Pregnancy Prevention ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Asian American Adolescents ◽  
Sexual Histories

Asian American adolescents have been reported to have the lowest amount of communication with health care providers regarding sexual health topics (sexual activity, contraception, sexually transmitted infections, and pregnancy prevention). This study identified Asian American adolescents’ attitudes/beliefs regarding how health care providers can be most helpful in communicating about sexual health topics. Twenty participants revealed the following information: (a) confidentiality concerns resulted in lying to health care providers about sexual histories or refusing hormonal contraception, (b) a general lack of knowledge regarding sexual health topics, and (c) a hesitancy to discuss sexual histories with Asian American health care providers. Asian American adolescents expressed a need for privacy from parents regarding their sexual behaviors, and want health care providers to initiate conversations and provide information about sexual health topics.

ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE IN SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 66-83
Author(s):  
A.G. Salmanov ◽  
I.I. Raksha ◽  
N.O. Dobrianska
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Antimicrobial Resistance ◽  
Sexually Transmitted Infections ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Actual Problem ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Treatment Regimens ◽  
Urogenital Infections ◽  
Epidemiological Characteristics

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), including gonorrhea, are an actual problem that continues to bother doctors and health care providers. After all, the consequences of urogenital infections are harm to the sexual and reproductive health of the population, to future generations. The level of registration of individual STIs continues to increase, which puts before the health care system and society as a whole the urgent task of preventing the harmful effects of this pathology on public health. In recent years, according to research, the epidemiological characteristics of STIs have changed dramatically. These changes are associated with the expansion of the age and social composition of STI patients. There are changes in the etiology of STIs and the antimicrobial resistance of their pathogens. There are new mechanisms of resistance of STI agents in the most important antibiotics and chemotherapeutic drugs. There is every reason to believe that the problem of antibiotic-resistant strains will continue to exist, which hampers the effectiveness of treatment regimens. Efforts at many levels are important to effectively address this problem, particularly in the areas of new drug development, alternative treatment regimens, and further research on testing antimicrobial resistance.

Effects of COVID-19 on Sexual and Reproductive health

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (SPL1) ◽  
pp. 1841-1845
Author(s):  
Shazia Mohammad ◽  
Neema Acharya ◽  
Kiran Borkar ◽  
Shirin Mohammad
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Health ◽  
Sexually Transmitted Infections ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Sexual And Reproductive Health ◽  
Public Health Issue ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Gender Based Violence ◽  
Safe Abortion ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

The outbreak of novel coronavirus disease was first reported in China in December 2019, and WHO declared the coronavirus pandemic on 11 March 2020. Since then, all the continents have observed a fast-growing upward trend in number of confirmed cases. During the epidemics, Sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and rights became a monumentous public health issue. The novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) is new to humans and there is only some experimental data available to describe the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) effects of COVID-19 disease, including clinical appearance and consequences of COVID-19 infection during birth, or for people with STI (sexually transmitted infections) or HIV-related immunosuppression. We should not neglect the bearings at the level of the health system and delays or interludes in the routine availability of SRH facilities outside the therapeutic reach of SRH, such as pre-and postnatal tests, safe abortion, contraception, HIV/AIDS, and sexually transmitted infections. In addition, other factors warrant consideration, such as the possible rise in gender-based violence and domestic abuse and the consequences of COVID-19-related stigma and prejudice and their effect on SRH customers and health care providers. Therefore, the research community has an immediate requirement for the creation of all-inclusive clinical, epidemiological, and psycho-social behavioral ties between COVID-19 and SRH and the effects of rights. A comprehensive systematic literature search of the databases of PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Medline, Cochrane and MedRxiv, was carried out.

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