Swift reports show up sexually transmitted infections trend

The new system of gathering data on sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in New Zealand has flung up some dramatic figures.

For example, the chlamydia rate among women aged 15 to 19 appears to be much higher than that for women in Canada or Australia.

Thanks to the efforts of many in the health sector who provide data collated by the Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR), those battling the increase in STIs now have much clearer information to help them. Sharpening up the focus on STIs is the culmination of a five-year process.

Research associates in ESR's communicable disease programme in Wellington, and from the Mt Albert Science Centre in Auckland, are spearheading innovations in data collection.

STIs are not notifiable in this country, so while data from sexual health clinics is useful for national trends it does not portray the total burden of the disease.

The Ministry of Health's strategy to improve STI surveillance was the platform for ESR's expansion of the system in mid-1996 with the addition of age, sex, and ethnicity data (anonymously identified).

This meant that for the first time health workers could single out the number of new infections in women under 20, for example.

Because sexual infections are treated by a number of providers, another improvement was ESR's inclusion of data from family planning clinics, university and polytechnic health clinics, as well as diagnostic laboratories in the Waikato, Bay of Plenty, and Auckland.

Participation in the new scheme is voluntary.

ESR researchers travelled the country meeting organisations and making participants aware that the information collated would be rapidly reported back to them in a usable form. They could then use data to pinpoint trends in their own regions, enabling them to focus their work and own health promotion programmes. In mid-1998, a new database was established.

ESR research associate Anne McNicholas: "We're now getting a more comprehensive picture of what's going on. It's faster for the practitioners to access data, and their data gets to us faster too. This means the data is used to quickly identify emerging trends."

The new information is generating new questions, and highlights the need for further research.

"We've gone from a point where NZ virtually hid its head in the sand where STIs were concerned, to where we now have figures which give a base from which to develop appropriate programmes to tackle these important public health issues," one researcher said.

* Information provided by ESR.

Common STIs

Sexually transmitted infections are very common, and most can be treated. Anyone having unprotected sex (without a condom) with a new partner is at risk.

Tests for STIs are quick, simple and virtually painless.

Some of the infections - chlamydia, for example - have no symptoms. They are easy to treat, but if chlamydia is left untreated it can cause infertility in women. STIs include:

* Chlamydia

* Crabs

* Genital herpes

* Genital warts

* Non-gonococcal urethritis

* Gonorrhoea

* Hepatitis A, B

* HIV and Aids

* Trichomoniasis

More information: Family Planning Association (centres throughout the North Island), your doctor, the Auckland Sexual Health Service (09-307-2885) or your local sexual health service.