Sexual healthPub Date : 2025-02-01DOI: 10.1071/SH24214
Robert Monaghan, Louise Causer, James Ward, Belinda Hengel, Kirsty Smith, Kelly Andrewartha, Christopher Fairley, Lisa Maher, Donna Mak, Caitlyn White, Jessica Leonard, Rebecca Guy, Lise Lafferty, On Behalf Of The Ttango Collaboration
{"title":"Understanding the role of patient communication protocols in sexually transmissible infections point-of-care testing among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in remote communities: a qualitative study.","authors":"Robert Monaghan, Louise Causer, James Ward, Belinda Hengel, Kirsty Smith, Kelly Andrewartha, Christopher Fairley, Lisa Maher, Donna Mak, Caitlyn White, Jessica Leonard, Rebecca Guy, Lise Lafferty, On Behalf Of The Ttango Collaboration","doi":"10.1071/SH24214","DOIUrl":"10.1071/SH24214","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Background Untreated sexually transmissible infections (STIs) such as Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae can lead to serious health issues, including pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility in women, increased HIV risk, and emotional distress. Timely testing and treatment are crucial for reducing transmission. Australia's STI Management Guidelines recommend regular STI testing every 6-12months for sexually active individuals aged 15-35 years in high-prevalence, remote areas. However, testing uptake remains low among young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This analysis explores how healthcare providers engage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in STI testing using point-of-care (POC) diagnostics. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted with trained STI POC testing operators within the Test Treat ANd GO (TTANGO2) project. Seven clinics involved in TTANGO2 were selected for their 'high' and 'low' implementation of STI POC testing. Purposive sampling was used to recruit similar personnel from each of the selected clinics. Coding was informed by a patient communication protocol lens. Results Twenty healthcare personnel, including Aboriginal Health Workers/Practitioners (n =8), Registered Nurses (n =7), Coordinators (n =2), and Clinical/Practice Managers (n =3) participated. Key themes related to implementing STI POC testing focused on different stages of identified patient communication protocols, such as offering tests, providing follow-up results, and contact tracing. Concerns about shame and confidentiality were significant factors affecting patient communication protocols throughout the process. Conclusions Normalising sexual health discussions in healthcare settings helps reduce feelings of shame and stigma, further encouraging patient participation in sexual health services. Ensuring patient safety and offering culturally appropriate explanations of STI POC testing are essential to reduce barriers, such as shame and stigma. Culturally safe practices can increase patient engagement and provide opportunities for health education. Integrating STI POC testing into routine health care can help normalise testing and boost uptake. However, same-day results may still require patient follow-up to maintain confidentiality. Addressing external factors, such as accessibility, confidentiality, stigma reduction, and community engagement, is crucial for improving STI testing services.</p>","PeriodicalId":22165,"journal":{"name":"Sexual health","volume":"22 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143524509","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sexual healthPub Date : 2025-02-01DOI: 10.1071/SH24153
Helena González-Casals, Albert Espelt, Marina Bosque-Prous, Judit Rogés, Marina Robles-Muñoz, Joan Colom, Jordi Casabona, María José Belza, Cinta Folch
{"title":"Sex differences in alcohol and other substance use in sexual contexts among adolescents: an observational study.","authors":"Helena González-Casals, Albert Espelt, Marina Bosque-Prous, Judit Rogés, Marina Robles-Muñoz, Joan Colom, Jordi Casabona, María José Belza, Cinta Folch","doi":"10.1071/SH24153","DOIUrl":"10.1071/SH24153","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Background There is a co-occurrence of adolescents' substance use and sexual practices, with an important impact on their health and health behaviours; however, limited research is conducted with adolescents. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of substance use (alcohol and/or other substances) in sexual contexts and to identify its associated factors among adolescents, comparing boys and girls. Methods Cross-sectional study with data from 6352 adolescents aged 14----18years from the DESKcohort project. Prevalence of alcohol and/or other substance use in sexual contexts (OSUSC) stratified by sex were calculated, according to axes of inequality, psychosocial factors, and sexual health and health variables. Poisson regression models with robust variance were calculated to analyse potential associations with independent variables. Results Girls (51.4% of the sample) reported a higher prevalence of alcohol use in sexual contexts than boys (43.9% vs 33.9%, P Conclusions These findings suggest that substance use in sexual contexts reflects a broader pattern of co-occurring risky behaviours rather than intentional sexualised substance use. Some vulnerable groups include girls, adolescents with a minority sexual orientation, and students with disadvantaged SEPs. These findings underscore the need for holistic interventions targeting adolescents' health, addressing substance use and sexual risk behaviours simultaneously to reduce potential consequences such as unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections.</p>","PeriodicalId":22165,"journal":{"name":"Sexual health","volume":"22 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143365025","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sexual healthPub Date : 2025-02-01DOI: 10.1071/SH24180
Duoqin Huang, Xin Wan, Hong Wang, Jiangqing Chen, Yanan Zheng, Li Li, Xi Gong
{"title":"Characteristics and associations between sexting and high-risk sexual behaviors among college students in Jiangxi Province, China.","authors":"Duoqin Huang, Xin Wan, Hong Wang, Jiangqing Chen, Yanan Zheng, Li Li, Xi Gong","doi":"10.1071/SH24180","DOIUrl":"10.1071/SH24180","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Background To explore the characteristics, influencing factors, and associations between sexting and high-risk sexual behaviors among college students in Jiangxi Province, China, providing a basis for promoting sexual health education and preventing high-risk sexual behaviors among college students. Methods A convenient sampling method was used to conduct an anonymous survey on 13,976 students from 15 universities in Jiangxi Province from November to December 2023. Chi-squared tests and binary logistic regression analyses were employed to investigate the influencing factors and associations between sexting and high-risk sexual behaviors. Results The reported rates of sexting and high-risk sexual behaviors among college students were 12.7% and 11.0%, respectively. Regression results indicated that the influencing factors for both behaviors included sex, grade, major, sexual orientation, knowledge of HIV/AIDS and family upbringing methods (P -values all Conclusion The prevalence of sexting and high-risk sexual behaviors among college students in Jiangxi Province should not be overlooked, and those with sexting experiences are more likely to engage in high-risk sexual behaviors. Educators should enhance sexual health education and safety control of sexual behaviors among college students.</p>","PeriodicalId":22165,"journal":{"name":"Sexual health","volume":"22 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143366062","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sexual healthPub Date : 2025-02-01DOI: 10.1071/SH24071
Alyssa M Lederer, Callie Patterson Perry
{"title":"Determinants of intention to test for sexually transmitted infections among late adolescent women in the United States.","authors":"Alyssa M Lederer, Callie Patterson Perry","doi":"10.1071/SH24071","DOIUrl":"10.1071/SH24071","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Background Individuals aged 15-24years are disproportionately affected by sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the United States, and young women can face severe health consequences if STIs are left undiagnosed. Yet STI testing rates in this priority population remain low. Few studies incorporate health behavior theory to examine factors associated with STI testing among young women in the United States, which is vital for intervention development. This study therefore sought to identify the determinants of college-enrolled late adolescent women's intentions to be tested for common STIs in the next 12months using a theory-based approach. Methods Students who identified as female at a large Midwestern university completed an online survey about STIs (n =171). Hierarchical multiple regression was used to assess the relationship between STI testing intention and the Reasoned Action Approach (RAA) global constructs of attitude, perceived norm, and perceived behavioral control, supplemented by STI knowledge, STI stigma, and STI shame. Results Findings indicate that the RAA global constructs predicted STI testing intention (P Conclusions Future interventions aimed at increasing STI testing among young women should focus on beliefs underlying the RAA global constructs and especially young women's beliefs regarding other people's support for getting tested for STIs.</p>","PeriodicalId":22165,"journal":{"name":"Sexual health","volume":"22 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143493508","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sexual healthPub Date : 2025-02-01DOI: 10.1071/SH24088
Chen Seong Wong, Anwar Hashim, Sejun Park, Nittaya Phanuphak, Rena Janamnuaysook, Edel Buna Simpauco, Timothy Wong, Amanda Rui En Woo, Billy Mo, Kimberly Green
{"title":"Enhancing future HIV services through telehealth services: an observational study to explore telehealth adoption and usage for HIV prevention and treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic.","authors":"Chen Seong Wong, Anwar Hashim, Sejun Park, Nittaya Phanuphak, Rena Janamnuaysook, Edel Buna Simpauco, Timothy Wong, Amanda Rui En Woo, Billy Mo, Kimberly Green","doi":"10.1071/SH24088","DOIUrl":"10.1071/SH24088","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Background Telehealth adoption for HIV care continuum accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study explored telehealth usage, motivators and barriers to telehealth adoption, and implementation challenges during the pandemic among people living with HIV, individuals at risk and community-based organisations (CBOs) in Asia. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted in June to December 2022 using an online quantitative survey among people living with HIV (n =787) and individuals at risk (n =744), and semi-structured qualitative interviews with CBOs across nine countries/territories in Asia. Responses from the survey were reported descriptively, and narratives from the interviews were used to identify the main themes associated with engagement configurations by CBOs. Results Regionally, HIV-related telehealth services were used by 56.8% of people living with HIV and 66.5% of individuals at risk, with 53.6-55.9% increasing their usage in 2021. Phone consultations, HIV-related health information sharing and video communications were the most commonly accessed services by telehealth users. Telehealth users most trusted mobile applications or software provided by clinics/healthcare providers/local CBOs. Telehealth uptake motivators included saving travelling time, improved access to HIV prevention care services and information outside of medical appointments; barriers included data privacy concerns and lack of technology accessibility, which were similarly acknowledged by local CBOs. Lack of resources to support telehealth services, and local policies on HIV prevention and treatment impeded CBOs from adequately delivering HIV care through telehealth. Conclusions This study highlights the potential of telehealth in HIV care while identifying critical challenges for its sustained integration. Addressing these issues (e.g. data privacy, telehealth infrastructure) would be essential to optimise telehealth services and improve HIV outcomes in the region.</p>","PeriodicalId":22165,"journal":{"name":"Sexual health","volume":"22 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143441399","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sexual healthPub Date : 2025-02-01DOI: 10.1071/SH24111
Jinli Mo, Weiyi Tian, Min Wang, Yun Zhang, Yinxia Liang, Hongbin Peng, Xia Luo, Haimei Huang, Sumin Tan, Jiawen Zhu, Ping Cen, Guanghua Lan, Hao Wang, Li Jiang, Chuanyi Ning
{"title":"Multiple sexual partners and condomless anal intercourse among men who have sex with men in southern China: investigating the role of receiving HIV serostatus disclosure from partners before sex.","authors":"Jinli Mo, Weiyi Tian, Min Wang, Yun Zhang, Yinxia Liang, Hongbin Peng, Xia Luo, Haimei Huang, Sumin Tan, Jiawen Zhu, Ping Cen, Guanghua Lan, Hao Wang, Li Jiang, Chuanyi Ning","doi":"10.1071/SH24111","DOIUrl":"10.1071/SH24111","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Background The impact of receiving HIV serostatus disclosure from partners before sex on number of sexual partners and condomless anal intercourse (CAI) among men who have sex with men (MSM) remains unclear. We aimed to determine the association between receiving this disclosure and engaging in risky sexual behaviors and its impact on HIV incidence rates. Methods HIV-negative MSM were followed with questionnaires every 3months for 12months. Generalized estimation equations models were used to assessed the factors associated with receiving serostatus disclosure and its impact on multiple sexual partners and CAI. Results Of the 363 participants, those tested for HIV in the past 3months were more likely to receive serostatus disclosure than those who had not (adjusted odds ratio (aOR)=3.145, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.109-4.691, P P P =0.351). Subgroup analysis revealed that MSM with casual partners who received serostatus disclosure were more likely to engage in CAI (aOR=1.646, 95% CI: 1.06-2.556, P =0.027). Conclusions HIV testing promotes serostatus disclosure and disclosure of HIV serostatus correlated with fewer sexual partners. However, among MSM with casual partners, disclosure was associated with a higher likelihood of CAI. These findings encourage regular HIV testing and HIV serostatus disclosure.</p>","PeriodicalId":22165,"journal":{"name":"Sexual health","volume":"22 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143390460","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sexual healthPub Date : 2025-01-01DOI: 10.1071/SH24199
Mohadese Dashtkoohi, Mostafa Saeedinia, Mohammad Dashtkoohi, Mohammad Haddadi, Masoumeh Masoumi, Zohreh Heidary
{"title":"Higher female partner age and longer duration of marriage: key factors for less frequent sexual intercourse in infertile couples.","authors":"Mohadese Dashtkoohi, Mostafa Saeedinia, Mohammad Dashtkoohi, Mohammad Haddadi, Masoumeh Masoumi, Zohreh Heidary","doi":"10.1071/SH24199","DOIUrl":"10.1071/SH24199","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Background Sexual intercourse frequency (SIF) is widely known to be associated with fertility, but little is known about what predicts SIF among infertile couples trying to conceive. In this study, we examine the demographic and lifestyle risk factors associated with less frequent coitus among infertile couples. Methods This cross-sectional study examined infertile couples actively trying to conceive, selecting them from patients seeking fertility treatment. Demographic data and lifestyle factors such as age, occupation, smoking status, and body mass index were recorded. Participants self-reported the frequency of vaginal-penile intercourse per week and month. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression analyses were used to analyze the data and identify predictors of SIF. Results Our study included a final sample size of 790 couples. In univariate binary logistic regression, women's age (OR: 0.948; 95% CI 0.928-0.969), men's age (OR: 0.957; 95% CI 0.937-0.977), duration of marriage (OR: 0.927; 95% CI 0.903-0.952), and duration of infertility (OR: 0.928; 95% CI 0.898-0.960) were found to be significant factors. Additionally, men's smoking was negatively associated with SIF, with an odds ratio of 0.732 (95% CI: 0.578-0.928, P =0.010). Conclusions We observed that younger female partner age and shorter duration of marriage independently emerged as significant predictors associated with higher SIF. Our study highlights the need for tailored counseling and education based on age and marital stage. Older couples may benefit from specialized support such as sexual therapy and stress management. The negative impact of men's smoking on sexual intercourse frequency underscores the importance of effective smoking cessation programs. Comprehensive infertility treatment should address medical, psychological, and sexual health factors.</p>","PeriodicalId":22165,"journal":{"name":"Sexual health","volume":"22 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143011960","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sexual healthPub Date : 2025-01-01DOI: 10.1071/SH24070
Alyxandra Ramsay, Jo Blankson, Lara Finnerty-Haggerty, Jiaxin Wu, Joshua D Safer, John Henry Pang
{"title":"Using a novel and validated survey tool to analyze sexual functioning following vaginoplasty in transgender individuals.","authors":"Alyxandra Ramsay, Jo Blankson, Lara Finnerty-Haggerty, Jiaxin Wu, Joshua D Safer, John Henry Pang","doi":"10.1071/SH24070","DOIUrl":"10.1071/SH24070","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Background In the healthcare setting, transgender patients are often marginalized, face discrimination and have limited access to high-quality gender-affirming care, such as gender-affirming surgery (GAS). As a result, the available data pertaining to GAS are often based on convenience samples, and the majority of published studies in the US are cross-sectional. Transgender people may undergo GAS to align their bodies with their gender identities. There has been little emphasis on the GAS self-evaluated experience. GAS may be associated with improved quality of life in transgender people. This study aimed to analyze the functionality of transgender patients' genitals following vaginoplasty. Methods A total of 306 transgender patients responded to a validated survey for patient-reported feminizing GAS outcomes. Surveys were given to patients prior to GAS, and then 2weeks, 6months and 12months postoperatively. Pre- and post-GAS responses were compared using McNemar and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. Self-identified race/ethnicity was available for all survey participants. All participants voluntarily took the same survey by using the same survey platform to eliminate bias. Results Five questions showed significant improvement between the 2-week and 6-month responses. These questions assessed if respondents had sensation in their clitoris (P =0.031), the frequency that clitoral stimulation was pleasurable (P =0.018), the presence of sexual activity in the past 3months (P P =0.031) and if labial irritation while walking or exercising decreased (P =0.051). Significant differences were not detected between the 6-month and 12-month responses for any of the survey questions. Conclusions The results of five different metrics regarding sexual activity and vaginal functioning showed a significant improvement for transgender people following GAS. Findings also similarly demonstrate a high success rate of sexual activity after GAS. These are significant patient-reported outcomes using tools validated for the transgender population. Respondent outcomes significantly improved between the 2-week and 6-month time period, but did not differ between the 6-month and 12-month period, suggesting the ideal time to assess the above-described patient-perceived outcomes with vaginoplasty is 6months postoperatively.</p>","PeriodicalId":22165,"journal":{"name":"Sexual health","volume":"22 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143067910","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sexual healthPub Date : 2025-01-01DOI: 10.1071/SH24250
Connor R Volpi, John Chama, Natalia Blanco, Ruxton Adebiyi, Kareshma Mohanty, Ayuba Doroh, Jumoke A Aigoro, Christiana Katu, Uche Ononaku, John Maigida, Abayomi Aka, Ashley Shutt, Patrick Dakum, Man Charurat, Sylvia Adebajo, Rebecca G Nowak
{"title":"'Does human papillomavirus (HPV) cause cancer?' - A cross-sectional study of HPV awareness among sexual minority men in Nigeria.","authors":"Connor R Volpi, John Chama, Natalia Blanco, Ruxton Adebiyi, Kareshma Mohanty, Ayuba Doroh, Jumoke A Aigoro, Christiana Katu, Uche Ononaku, John Maigida, Abayomi Aka, Ashley Shutt, Patrick Dakum, Man Charurat, Sylvia Adebajo, Rebecca G Nowak","doi":"10.1071/SH24250","DOIUrl":"10.1071/SH24250","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Background Human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated cancers are a global concern, particularly for sexual minority men (SMM). Understanding awareness and the determinants of these beliefs is crucial for developing educational programs to reduce HPV-associated cancers. This study explored awareness and determinants of beliefs about HPV's carcinogenicity among SMM living with and without HIV in Nigeria. Methods Participants were recruited through secure social media platforms in Abuja, Nigeria. REDCap surveys captured demographics, sexual practices and participants' beliefs regarding HPV's role in cancer. Multivariable logistic regression modeling was used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the relationships between individual characteristics and belief levels stratified by those living with and without HIV. Results Of 982 participants, the median age was 29years (interquartile range: 26-34); 64.1% were living with HIV, and 9.7% believed HPV causes cancer. Awareness was highest for anal (82.1%) and penile cancers (15.8%) and less so for oropharyngeal and female HPV-associated cancers (range: 3-7%). Anogenital warts increased the odds of awareness for SMM living with HIV (aOR: 6.4, CI: 3.0-13.6) and for individuals without HIV (aOR: 4.8, CI: 1.6-14.2). Living with HIV for over 6years was independently associated with a two-fold increased knowledge about HPV's carcinogenicity (aOR: 2.1, CI: 1.1-4.1). Conclusions Awareness of HPV's carcinogenicity was low; however, those who were aware were more likely to identify male HPV-associated cancers relevant to their own cancer risk. Formalizing targeted education in HIV care settings may promote knowledge and advocacy for prevention strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":22165,"journal":{"name":"Sexual health","volume":"22 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11908648/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143067895","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sexual healthPub Date : 2025-01-01DOI: 10.1071/SH24140
J Jung, J L Goller, P Chondros, J Ong, R Biezen, D Pires, D Capurro, N Faux, J A Manski-Nankervis
{"title":"The gonorrhoea care cascade in general practice: a descriptive study to explore gonorrhoea management utilising electronic medical records.","authors":"J Jung, J L Goller, P Chondros, J Ong, R Biezen, D Pires, D Capurro, N Faux, J A Manski-Nankervis","doi":"10.1071/SH24140","DOIUrl":"10.1071/SH24140","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Background Gonorrhoea notification rates in Australia have more than doubled between 2014 and 2019. We explored gonorrhoea testing patterns and management of gonorrhoea infection in general practice. Methods We analysed de-identified electronic medical record data for individuals who attended 73 Australian general practices (72 in the state of Victoria) between January 2018 and December 2020. The 'care cascade' model was utilised to explore gonorrhoea detection and management. Descriptive analysis and logistic regression were used to investigate factors associated with gonorrhoea testing, treatment and retesting. Results During the study period, there were a total of 1,027,337 clinical episodes. Of these, 5.6% (n =57,847, 95% confidence interval [CI] 4.5-6.7) involved a gonorrhoea test and 1.1% (n =637, 95% CI 0.8-1.4) tested positive. Of the 637 gonorrhoea cases, 48.4% (n =308, 95% CI 29.8-67.0) had an Australian guideline-recommended dual antibiotic prescription (ceftriaxone and azithromycin) recorded. Of 329 cases without a dual antibiotic prescription, 84.2% (n =277, 95% CI 77.5-90.9) had reattended the clinic. Among the 206 gonorrhoea cases with dual antibiotic prescription recorded in 2018 and 2019, 32.0% (n =66, 95% CI 25.3-38.8) were retested from 6weeks to 6months post-treatment. Of the 140 gonorrhoea cases that were not retested, 54.3% (n =76, 95% CI 46.8-61.8) reattended the clinic within 6months of treatment. Conclusion The low proportion of gonorrhoea cases prescribed recommended antibiotics and retested within recommended timeframes suggests opportunities for integrating Australian STI guidelines into primary care. Further exploration of care pathways is warranted to determine if care was provided but not recorded, provided elsewhere or not provided.</p>","PeriodicalId":22165,"journal":{"name":"Sexual health","volume":"22 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143067899","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}