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Sex Transm Infect 2004;80:142-144 doi:10.1136/sti.2003.004382
  • Sexual health strategy

Managing genital infection in community family planning clinics: an alternative approach to holistic sexual health service provision

  1. J Evans1,
  2. P Baraitser2,
  3. J Cross1,
  4. L Bacon1,
  5. J Piper3
  1. 1The Department of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care, Lewisham Primary Care Trust, St Giles Hospital, St Giles Road, London SE5 7RN, UK
  2. 2The Department of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care, Southwark Primary Care Trust, St Giles Hospital, St Giles Road, London SE5 7RN, UK
  3. 3Research Support Unit for Greenwich, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark Primary Care Trusts, 258 Waterloo Road, London SE1 8RG, UK
  1. Correspondence to:
 Dr J Evans
 The Department of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care, Lewisham Primary Care Trust, St Giles Hospital, St Giles Road, London SE5 7RN, UK; evajfreeuk.com
  • Accepted 5 August 2003

Abstract

Objective: To pilot and evaluate sexually transmitted infection (STI) management in community family planning clinics (FPCs).

Methods: Number of STI tests taken, positive results, infections treated, contacts traced/treated, referrals to specialist services and time from testing to treatment were documented as well as age and sex of the population tested.

Results: STI tests taken increased from 233 to 308/month and male clients seen increased from 114 to 147/month across all clinics. Chlamydia prevalence rates in one large clinic increased from 6.7% to 11.9%. 82% of those with STIs in this clinic were treated. Of 44 clients treated for chlamydia, 84% had partner notification performed, 0.43 contacts were treated for every client with chlamydia and referrals to specialist services decreased. 70% of STIs were detected in clinic users under the age of 25 and 45.5% of clients tested under the age of 16 had an STI. Before STI treatment was available at FP clinics 52% of clients with STIs attended specialist services after referral and time from testing to treatment was 19 days. Managing STIs in the community increased treatment rates to 82% with a testing to treatment time of 10 days.

Conclusions: The management of uncomplicated genital infection in community FPCs working in partnership with specialist services is a feasible and effective approach to holistic sexual health service provision.

Footnotes

  • Conflicting interests: The authors of this paper were responsible for both implementing and evaluating the service studied. Their detailed knowledge of the service was an advantage but we recognise the potential for this to bias their interpretation of the data. We have actively sought to minimise the potential for bias at all stages of the study.

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