Hayley J Denison1, Lisa Woods2, Collette Bromhead3, Jane Kennedy4, Rebecca Grainger5, Annemarie Jutel6, Elaine M Dennison7. 1. Research Fellow, Centre for Public Health Research, Massey University, Wellington; Doctoral Candidate, School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University, Wellington. 2. Statistical Consultant, School of Mathematics and Statistics, Victoria University, Wellington. 3. Senior Lecturer, College of Health, Massey University, Wellington. 4. Sexual Health Physician, Wellington Sexual Health Service, Wellington. 5. Senior Lecturer, Department of Medicine, University of Otago, Wellington. 6. Professor, Graduate School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health, Faculty of Health, Victoria University, Wellington. 7. Professor, School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University, Wellington; Professor, MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom.
Abstract
AIMS: Untreated sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can lead to serious health complications and may be transmitted to uninfected individuals. Therefore, the early detection and subsequent management of STIs is crucial to control efforts. Time to presentation for STI symptoms and risk of transmission in this period has not been assessed in New Zealand to date. METHODS: All new clients presenting to an urban sexual health clinic (SHC) were invited to complete a questionnaire, which included demographic information, sexual health history, and details about the clinic visit. RESULTS: Of 331 people approached, 243 (73.4%) agreed to complete the questionnaire. Four incomplete questionnaires were excluded, leaving 239 participants (47.3% female and 52.7% male, 43.8% under the age of 25). The most common reason for seeking healthcare was experiencing symptoms (39.4%) and 41.7% of people with symptoms waited more than seven days to seek healthcare. Around a third (30.6%) of people with symptoms had sex after they first thought they may need to seek healthcare. Infrequent condom use was reported more often by people who had sex with existing partners (84.6%) than by people who had sex with new partners (10.0%). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to quantify healthcare-seeking behaviour for STI in New Zealand. Delayed healthcare-seeking (defined as waiting more than seven days) was common and almost a third of people reported engaging in sex while symptomatic. Enabling prompt healthcare-seeking is crucial to minimise transmission risk. Structural barriers such as the financial cost of STI tests must be removed and education around symptom recognition and healthcare system navigation should be provided.
AIMS: Untreated sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can lead to serious health complications and may be transmitted to uninfected individuals. Therefore, the early detection and subsequent management of STIs is crucial to control efforts. Time to presentation for STI symptoms and risk of transmission in this period has not been assessed in New Zealand to date. METHODS: All new clients presenting to an urban sexual health clinic (SHC) were invited to complete a questionnaire, which included demographic information, sexual health history, and details about the clinic visit. RESULTS: Of 331 people approached, 243 (73.4%) agreed to complete the questionnaire. Four incomplete questionnaires were excluded, leaving 239 participants (47.3% female and 52.7% male, 43.8% under the age of 25). The most common reason for seeking healthcare was experiencing symptoms (39.4%) and 41.7% of people with symptoms waited more than seven days to seek healthcare. Around a third (30.6%) of people with symptoms had sex after they first thought they may need to seek healthcare. Infrequent condom use was reported more often by people who had sex with existing partners (84.6%) than by people who had sex with new partners (10.0%). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to quantify healthcare-seeking behaviour for STI in New Zealand. Delayed healthcare-seeking (defined as waiting more than seven days) was common and almost a third of people reported engaging in sex while symptomatic. Enabling prompt healthcare-seeking is crucial to minimise transmission risk. Structural barriers such as the financial cost of STI tests must be removed and education around symptom recognition and healthcare system navigation should be provided.
Authors: E W Hook; C M Richey; P Leone; G Bolan; C Spalding; K Henry; P Clarke; M Smith; C L Celum Journal: Sex Transm Dis Date: 1997-09 Impact factor: 2.830
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