The feasibility of testing commercial sex workers for chlamydia and gonorrhoea on outreach
- Sarah Macauley (sarahmacauley{at}blueyonder.co.uk)
Abstract
Objectives: To assess the feasibility of testing indoor commercial sex workers (CSW) for Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae in an outreach setting.
Methods: All CSWs seen on outreach over a six week period were offered self-taken vulval swabs for Chlamydia and gonorrhoea testing. Feasibility was assessed by all the outreach workers on a standardised proforma.
Results: Of the 93 women offered the service 40 accepted, of whom 5 (12%) had not previously accessed sexual health services. The majority of women declining the service had recently attended a sexuaol health clinic. Three cases of Chlamydia and one of gonorrhoea were diagnosed. The cost per sexually transmitted infection (STI) was £392.50
Conclusions: Most of this group of women were knowledgeable about sexual health and were already having regular check ups, but a significant minority did not know how to access STI care. Offering STI testing on outreach was feasible and cost effective.
