A new research project is being undertaken in the Territory to examine the application of presumptive treatment for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) in Central Australia, led by the Territory's expert Advisory Group on Sexual Health.
The project will involve development of guidelines to assess the risk and likelihood of an individual having an STI and therefore benefiting from immediate presumptive treatment.
The Territory's Chief Health Officer, Dr Christine Connors, said the aim of the project is to assess whether the presumptive treatment approach reduces STI levels in the participating remote communities.
"If the project is successful it could improve STI control by increasing treatment rates and reducing the time to access treatment," Dr Connors said.
"While a report published in the Medical Journal of Australia promotes mass treatment for STIs, that approach had been considered in the Territory as one of range of options for addressing STIs over many years. The implementation of such a program requires good evidence and raises a number of logistical and ethical considerations," Dr Connors said.
Despite a number of initiatives to improve STI control including less invasive and more convenient testing processes and highly effective single treatment doses for the most common STIs, the level of some STIs remain a health concern.
STIs can be asymptomatic so many people will not realise they have an STI and many people can also be reluctant to present to a health clinic with symptoms.
Additionally, the time lag between a test being taken and the result being known can make it difficult to locate the patient for follow-up treatment.
The shame factor associated with STIs can be particularly amplified in remote areas where there may be a lack of male medical staff resulting in male patients not presenting for sexual health issues.
Consultation with communities to gain support for the study is presently underway.
The Territory's expert Advisory Group on Sexual Health, funded by the Department of Health and Community Services and made up of Government and Non-Government health professionals, is leading a range of new initiatives to address the high rates of STIs.
The STI presumptive treatment project is part of a package of initiatives and projects developed late last year, including:
the Territory-wide roll-out of a new education campaign on Chlamydia targeted at young people
Building the capacity of the public health sector to respond to sexual health issues
providing Sexual Health Program Coordinators at Alice Springs and Katherine to promote sexual health programs across the health sector
involving the Cental Australian Aboriginal Congress in annual regional STI screening
exploring outreach partnerships with existing non-government organisations, particularly to promote safe sex messages and sexual health education to young people
Contact: Sonia Peters 0401 119 550
Release date: 4 February 2008
