Disease prevention and control strategies A comprehensive approach to prevention and control of chlamydia infections in WA continues through: regular state-wide STI campaigns and health education resources targeting young people aged 16 to 24 years, urging them to get tested and providing an online testing program (http://www.couldihaveit.com.au/); workforce development and support, including online education programs (e.g. http://sti.ecu.edu.au/ and cultural competency training); and promulgation of guidelines for management of sexually transmitted infections for health professionals (http://silverbook.health.wa.gov.au)5. Opportunistic testing is promoted through information and education provided to general medical practitioners and other health professionals. Education programs targeting priority risk groups in the population are provided through agencies supported and funded by the DoH, including Sexual Health Quarters (SHQ), the Multicultural Services Centre WA (MSCWA), the Youth Affairs Council of WA (YACWA), the Wirrpanda Foundation, the Aboriginal Health Council of WA (AHCWA) and the WA AIDS Council (WAAC). In 2016 the DoH developed several new resources targeting Aboriginal parents and carers, and education and health professionals to encourage enhanced communication with young Aboriginal people about sexual health. Sexual health education in schools is supported by online curriculum support materials (http://gdhr.wa.gov.au/). A workforce development program provided by Curtin University for in-service teachers and pre-service training has been established to promote the confidence and skills of teachers providing sexuality and relationship education in schools. The school-based program is supported by widely distributed hard-copy resources for school students and parents. education is supported by a website developed specifically for 14 to 17 year olds (http://getthefacts.health.wa.gov.au/). Gonorrhoea Trends over time The number of gonorrhoea notifications reported to the DoH increased by 93% from 2007 to a ten-year high in 2016 (n=1,759 to 3,391). The number of notifications in 2016 was 46% higher than the number in 2015 (n=2,320) and 62% government
Syphilis Syphilis notifications have been classified into ‘infectious’ (primary syphilis + secondary syphilis + early latent syphilis [less than two years duration]), (more than two years or unknown duration) and ‘congenital’ syphilis. Infectious syphilis Trends over time The number of infectious syphilis notifications in 2016 (n=339) was double that observed in 2015 (n=166) and more than three-times higher than the 2011 to 2015 five-year average of 108 notifications per year (Figure 4.1), reflecting a syphilis outbreak among Aboriginal people across northern Australia (see section 4.4) and a continuing increase in syphilis notifications among MSM8. Figure . Number and ASR of infectious syphilis notifications, WA, 2007 to 2016 Distribution by age and sex In 2016, the highest number of infectious syphilis notifications occurred in people aged 25 to 29 years while the highest notification rate occurred in people aged 35 to 39 years. Among those aged 15 years or older, there were more notifications among males (Figure 4.2). Figure . Number of infectious syphilis notifications by sex and overall age-specific rate, WA, 2016 Notifications by Aboriginality In 2016, 85% of infectious syphilis notifications occurred in non-Aboriginal people and 15% in Aboriginal people. The Aboriginal to non-Aboriginal rate ratio peaked in 2008 (17.9:1) then decreased to a ten-year low of 3.1:1 in 2013 before increasing again to 9.8:1 in 2015 then