Fairbairn, Anna; Tyler, Hilary; Su, Jiunn-Yih; Tilley, Emma

Author(s)

Fairbairn, Anna

Tyler, Hilary

Su, Jiunn-Yih

Tilley, Emma

Publication Date

2010-06-08

Abstract

To identify risk factors and associations for sexually transmitted infections (STI) in young Aboriginal women presenting to an ED for non-genitourinary reasons, in order to better target opportunistic screening in this group. To determine the prevalence of chlamydia and gonorrhoea in women presenting to the Alice Springs Hospital ED. A cross-sectional study involving STI screening and participant interview between January 2007 and September 2007 was used. The participants were a convenience sample of Aboriginal women aged 16-35 years presenting to the Alice Springs Hospital ED for non-genitourinary reasons. The main outcome measures were the prevalence of gonorrhoea and chlamydia and significant associations for STI. A total of 213 women were included in the study. The prevalence rates of women screened were 8.9% for chlamydia, 9.4% for gonorrhoea and 16.0% for gonorrhoea or chlamydia. Identified objective associations for positive STI diagnosis included presenting with an injury due to an assault (odds ratio [OR], 3.56), self-reported past history of an STI (OR, 2.53) and leucocytes on urinalysis (OR, 2.19). The prevalence of STI is high in young Aboriginal women presenting to Alice Springs Hospital ED. Screening is acceptable to these patients using low vaginal swabs, and may be targeted at those women with the identified associations. The results of the present study may have relevance to other hospital ED in areas with a high prevalence of STI. A prospective study is needed to confirm these findings.

Affiliation

Emergency Department, Alice Springs Hospital, Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia. faira@ekit.com.

Citation

Emerg Med Australas . 2010 Jun;22(3):216-23. doi: 10.1111/j.1742-6723.2010.01287.x. Epub 2010 May 20.

Pubmed ID

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20497211/?otool=iaurydwlib

Link

https://hdl.handle.net/10137/5713

MESH subject

Adolescent

Adult

Asymptomatic Infections

Australia

Chlamydia Infections

Cross-Sectional Studies

Female

Gonorrhea

Humans

Interviews as Topic

Mass Screening

Oceanic Ancestry Group

Prevalence

Risk Factors

Sexual Behavior

Young Adult

Emergency Service, Hospital

Title

Risk factors and associations for the diagnosis of sexually transmitted infections in Aboriginal women presenting to the Alice Springs Hospital emergency department.

Type of document

Journal Article

Entity Type

Publication

Author(s)	Fairbairn, Anna Tyler, Hilary Su, Jiunn-Yih Tilley, Emma
Publication Date	2010-06-08
Abstract	To identify risk factors and associations for sexually transmitted infections (STI) in young Aboriginal women presenting to an ED for non-genitourinary reasons, in order to better target opportunistic screening in this group. To determine the prevalence of chlamydia and gonorrhoea in women presenting to the Alice Springs Hospital ED. A cross-sectional study involving STI screening and participant interview between January 2007 and September 2007 was used. The participants were a convenience sample of Aboriginal women aged 16-35 years presenting to the Alice Springs Hospital ED for non-genitourinary reasons. The main outcome measures were the prevalence of gonorrhoea and chlamydia and significant associations for STI. A total of 213 women were included in the study. The prevalence rates of women screened were 8.9% for chlamydia, 9.4% for gonorrhoea and 16.0% for gonorrhoea or chlamydia. Identified objective associations for positive STI diagnosis included presenting with an injury due to an assault (odds ratio [OR], 3.56), self-reported past history of an STI (OR, 2.53) and leucocytes on urinalysis (OR, 2.19). The prevalence of STI is high in young Aboriginal women presenting to Alice Springs Hospital ED. Screening is acceptable to these patients using low vaginal swabs, and may be targeted at those women with the identified associations. The results of the present study may have relevance to other hospital ED in areas with a high prevalence of STI. A prospective study is needed to confirm these findings.
Affiliation	Emergency Department, Alice Springs Hospital, Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia. faira@ekit.com.
Citation	Emerg Med Australas . 2010 Jun;22(3):216-23. doi: 10.1111/j.1742-6723.2010.01287.x. Epub 2010 May 20.
Pubmed ID	https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20497211/?otool=iaurydwlib
Link	https://hdl.handle.net/10137/5713
MESH subject	Adolescent Adult Asymptomatic Infections Australia Chlamydia Infections Cross-Sectional Studies Female Gonorrhea Humans Interviews as Topic Mass Screening Oceanic Ancestry Group Prevalence Risk Factors Sexual Behavior Young Adult Emergency Service, Hospital
Title	Risk factors and associations for the diagnosis of sexually transmitted infections in Aboriginal women presenting to the Alice Springs Hospital emergency department.
Type of document	Journal Article
Entity Type	Publication

Risk factors and associations for the diagnosis of sexually transmitted infections in Aboriginal women presenting to the Alice Springs Hospital emergency department.

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