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Heterogeneity in the spatial distribution of bacterial sexually transmitted infections
  1. E Schleihauf,
  2. R E Watkins,
  3. A J Plant
  1. Australian Biosecurity Cooperative Research Centre, Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Australia
  1. E Schleihauf, Population Health Assessment and Surveillance, Department of Health Promotion and Protection, Summit Place, 5th Floor, 1601 Lower Water Street, Halifax, NS B3J 2R7, Canada; Emily.Schleihauf{at}gov.ns.ca

Abstract

Objectives: Detailed knowledge of the spatial distribution of disease is required to inform service delivery and plan effective interventions. In order to elucidate the spatial epidemiology of three common sexually transmitted infections (STI) further, any significant spatiotemporal clustering of gonorrhoea, chlamydia or syphilis cases in New South Wales (NSW) was detected and described.

Methods: Eleven years of notified STI case data were analysed. Calculation of age and sex-stratified incidence rates was followed by spatiotemporal cluster analyses to investigate differences in the epidemiology of gonorrhoea, chlamydia and syphilis.

Results: More than one-third of all gonorrhoea, chlamydia and syphilis cases in NSW were detected within cluster areas. Gonorrhoea cases were the most highly clustered, followed by syphilis, then chlamydia. Clusters were highly significant and relative risk estimates ranged from 1.6 to 22.9.

Conclusion: The findings establish the high degree of geographical heterogeneity in STI incidence in NSW and indicate that the postal area of residence is an important predictor of STI incidence. Geographical surveillance could be incorporated into routine STI surveillance to identify populations in need of intervention. The evidence presented in this report indicates a need to implement geography-specific and phase-appropriate STI prevention and control strategies.

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Footnotes

  • Competing interests: None.

  • Ethics approval: Ethics approval for this study was obtained from the Curtin University Human Research Ethics Committee.

  • This paper is dedicated to the memory of our colleague, mentor, and much loved friend Professor Aileen Joy Plant, who died suddenly on 27 March 2007 while on an avian influenza mission for the World Health Organization.

  • Contributions: Study concept and design: ES, REW, AJP. Acquisition of data: REW, AJP. Analysis and interpretation of data: ES, REW. Drafting of the manuscript: ES. Critical revision of the manuscript: REW.

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