Knowledge about and experience of sexually transmissible infections in a representative sample of adults: the Second Australian Study of Health and Relationships
Andrew E. Grulich A I , Richard O. de Visser B , Paul B. Badcock C G , Anthony M. A. Smith C H , Juliet Richters D , Chris Rissel E and Judy M. Simpson FA Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
B School of Psychology, Pevensey 1, University of Sussex, Falmer BN1 9QH, UK.
C Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University, 215 Franklin Street, Melbourne, Vic. 3000, Australia.
D School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
E Sydney School of Public Health, Charles Perkins Centre (D17), University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
F Sydney School of Public Health, Edward Ford Building (A27), University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
G Present address: Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Orygen Youth Health Research Centre, 35 Poplar Road, Parkville, Vic. 3052, Australia.
H Deceased.
I Corresponding author. Email: agrulich@kirby.unsw.edu.au
Sexual Health 11(5) 481-494 https://doi.org/10.1071/SH14121
Submitted: 25 June 2014 Accepted: 19 August 2014 Published: 7 November 2014
Abstract
Background: Sexually transmissible infections (STIs) present a substantial public health burden, and are related to modifiable sexual behaviours. Methods: Computer-assisted telephone interviews were completed by a population-representative sample of 20 094 men and women aged 16–69 years. The overall participation rate among eligible people was 66.2%. Respondents were asked questions regarding their knowledge about, self-reported history of, and testing for STIs. Results: STI knowledge was better in women, the young, people of higher socioeconomic status, those with a variety of indicators of being at high STI risk and those with a history of receiving sex education in school. Approximately one in six men and women reported a lifetime history of an STI. A history of STI testing in the last year was reported by ~one in six (17%) women and one in eight men (13%) and higher rates of testing in women were reported in most high-risk groups. The highest rates of STI testing (61%) and HIV testing (89%) were reported in homosexual men. Conclusion: Knowledge of STI-related health consequences and transmission is improving in Australians, and rates of STI testing were relatively high but were higher in women than in men. Further increases in testing rates in both sexes will be required to facilitate the early diagnosis and treatment of STIs, which is a cornerstone of STI control.
References
[1] World Health Organization (WHO). Global incidence and prevalence of selected curable sexually transmitted infections, 2008. Geneva: WHO; 2012.[2] Gottlieb SL, Low N, Newman LM, Bolan G, Kamb M, Broutet N. Toward global prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STIs): the need for STI vaccines. Vaccine 2014; 32 1527–35.
| Toward global prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STIs): the need for STI vaccines.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 24581979PubMed |
[3] Satterwhite CL, Torrone E, Meites E, Dunne EF, Mahajan R, Ocfemia MC, et al Sexually transmitted infections among US women and men: prevalence and incidence estimates, 2008. Sex Transm Dis 2013; 40 187–93.
| Sexually transmitted infections among US women and men: prevalence and incidence estimates, 2008.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 23403598PubMed |
[4] Jin F, Prestage GP, Imrie J, Kippax SC, Donovan B, Templeton DJ, et al Anal sexually transmitted infections and risk of HIV infection in homosexual men. J Acquired Immune Def Synd 2010; 53 144–9.
[5] Owusu-Edusei K, Chesson HW, Gift TL, Tao G, Mahajan R, Ocfemia MC, et al The estimated direct medical cost of selected sexually transmitted infections in the United States, 2008. Sex Transm Dis 2013; 40 197–201.
| The estimated direct medical cost of selected sexually transmitted infections in the United States, 2008.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 23403600PubMed |
[6] The Kirby Institue. HIV, viral hepatitis and sexually transmissible infections in Australia Annual Surveillance Report 2013. Sydney: The Kirby Institute, The University of New South Wales; 2013.
[7] European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Sexually transmitted infections in Europe, 1990–2009. Stockholm: ECDC; 2011.
[8] Public Health Agency of Canada. The Chief Public Health Officer’s report on the state of public health in Canada, 2013: infectious disease: the never ending threat. Ottawa: Public Health Agency of Canada; 2013.
[9] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Sexually transmitted disease surveillance 2012. Atlanta: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; 2013.
[10] Lowndes CM, Hughes G. Epidemiology of STIs: UK. Medicine 2010; 38 211–15.
| Epidemiology of STIs: UK.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[11] Bajos N, Bozon M, Beltzer N, Laborde C, Andro A, Ferrand M, et al Changes in sexual behaviours: from secular trends to public health policies. AIDS 2010; 24 1185–91.
| Changes in sexual behaviours: from secular trends to public health policies.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 20299962PubMed |
[12] Department of Health and Aging (DoHA). National sexually transmissible infections strategy 2005–2008. Canberra: DoHA; 2005.
[13] Department of Health and Aging (DoHA). Campaign tracking for the National Sexually Transmissible Infections Prevention Program. Canberra: DoHA; 2012.
[14] Grulich AE, de Visser RO, Smith AM, Rissel CE, Richters J. Sex in Australia: knowledge about sexually transmissible infections and blood-borne viruses in a representative sample of adults. Aust N Z J Public Health 2003; 27 230–3.
| Sex in Australia: knowledge about sexually transmissible infections and blood-borne viruses in a representative sample of adults.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 14696716PubMed |
[15] Grulich AE, de Visser RO, Smith AM, Rissel CE, Richters J. Sex in Australia: sexually transmissible infection and blood-borne virus history in a representative sample of adults. Aust N Z J Public Health 2003; 27 234–41.
| Sex in Australia: sexually transmissible infection and blood-borne virus history in a representative sample of adults.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 14696717PubMed |
[16] Agius PA, Pitts MK, Smith AM, Mitchell A. Sexual behaviour and related knowledge among a representative sample of secondary school students between 1997 and 2008. Aust N Z J Public Health 2010; 34 476–81.
| Sexual behaviour and related knowledge among a representative sample of secondary school students between 1997 and 2008.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 21040175PubMed |
[17] Mitchell A, Patrick K, Heywood W, Blackman P, Pitts M. 5th National Survey of Australian Secondary Students and Sexual Health 2013. (ARCSHS Monograph Series No. 97). Melbourne: Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society; 2014.
[18] Richters J, Badcock PB, Simpson JM, Shellard D, Rissel C, de Visser RO, et al Design and methods of the Second Australian Survey of Health and Relationships. Sex Health 2014; 11 383–96.
| Design and methods of the Second Australian Survey of Health and Relationships.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[19] Department of Health and Aged Care (DoHA). Measuring remoteness: accessibility/remoteness index of Australia (ARIA). Canberra: DoHA; 2001.
[20] Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). Household wealth and wealth distribution, Australia, 2009–2010. Catalogue No. 6530.0. Canberra: ABS, 2011.
[21] Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). Australian standard classification of occupations, 2nd edn, Catalogue No. 1220.0. Canberra: ABS; 1997.
[22] StataCorp. Stata statistical software: release 11.2. College Station, Texas: StataCorp LP; 2009.
[23] Laumann EO, Gagnon J, Michael RT, Michaels S. The social organization of sexuality. Chicago: University of Chicago Press; 1994.
[24] Smith AM, Rissel CE, Richters J, Grulich AE, de Visser RO. Sex in Australia: the rationale and methods of the Australian Study of Health and Relationships. Aust N Z J Public Health 2003; 27 106–17.
| Sex in Australia: the rationale and methods of the Australian Study of Health and Relationships.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 14696700PubMed |
[25] Ali H, Donovan B, Liu B, Hocking JS, Agius P, Ward J, et al Chlamydia prevention indicators for Australia: review of the evidence from New South Wales. Sex Health 2012; 9 399–406.
| Chlamydia prevention indicators for Australia: review of the evidence from New South Wales.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 22950949PubMed |
[26] Armstrong NR, Wilson JD. Did the “Brazilian” kill the pubic louse? Sex Transm Infect 2006; 82 265–6.
| Did the “Brazilian” kill the pubic louse?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD28zgsVKgtQ%3D%3D&md5=cb46a7f9d1ba7143af7559312defdbc3CAS | 16731684PubMed |
[27] Santella AJ, Pollack A, Harrison C, Sawleshwarkar SN, Britt HC, Hillman RJ. Management rates of sexually transmissible infections by Australian general practitioners, 2000–2012. Sex Health 2014; 11 52–7.
| Management rates of sexually transmissible infections by Australian general practitioners, 2000–2012.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 24618039PubMed |
[28] Kong FY, Guy RJ, Hocking JS, Merritt T, Pirotta M, Heal C, et al Australian general practitioner chlamydia testing rates among young people. Med J Aust 2011; 194 249–52.
| 21381999PubMed |
[29] Holt M, Hull P, Lea T, Guy R, Bourne C, Prestage G, et al Comprehensive testing for, and diagnosis of, sexually transmissible infections among Australian gay and bisexual men: findings from repeated, cross-sectional behavioural surveillance, 2003–2012. Sex Transm Infect 2014; 90 208–15.
| Comprehensive testing for, and diagnosis of, sexually transmissible infections among Australian gay and bisexual men: findings from repeated, cross-sectional behavioural surveillance, 2003–2012.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 24234070PubMed |
[30] McGarrigle CA, Mercer CH, Fenton KA, Copas AJ, Wellings K, Erens B, et al Investigating the relationship between HIV testing and risk behaviour in Britain: National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles 2000. AIDS 2005; 19 77–84.
| Investigating the relationship between HIV testing and risk behaviour in Britain: National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles 2000.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 15627036PubMed |
[31] Zablotska IB, Kippax S, Grulich A, Holt M, Prestage G. Behavioural surveillance among gay men in Australia: methods, findings and policy implications for the prevention of HIV and other sexually transmissible infections. Sex Health 2011; 8 272–9.
| Behavioural surveillance among gay men in Australia: methods, findings and policy implications for the prevention of HIV and other sexually transmissible infections.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 21851766PubMed |
