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A syphilis outbreak in remote Australia: epidemiology and strategies for control

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 November 2004

D. B. MAK ,
G. H. JOHNSON  and
A. J. PLANT
D. B. MAK
Affiliation:
Department of Health Western Australia (formerly Kimberley Public Health Unit), Derby, WA, Australia Centre for International Health, Curtin University of Technology, WA, Australia School of Population Health, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
G. H. JOHNSON
Affiliation:
Department of Health Western Australia (formerly Kimberley Public Health Unit), Derby, WA, Australia
A. J. PLANT
Affiliation:
Centre for International Health, Curtin University of Technology, WA, Australia
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Abstract

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This paper describes the epidemiology of a syphilis outbreak in remote Australia, and explores contributing factors and control strategies. Between 1 August 2000 and 31 January 2002, 74 cases of early syphilis (42 female, 32 male) were identified in 73 Kimberley residents. Syphilis rates in age groups 10–19 and 20–29 years were 583 and 439 per 100000 person years respectively. Factors contributing to the outbreak included incompleteness of sexually transmitted infection (STI) clinical management, untimely contact tracing, staffing and management issues, and poor community knowledge about STIs. Outbreak control strategies addressed factors that could be influenced by changes in health service delivery, and focused on providing education and support to health staff, and efforts to increase community knowledge about sexual health. Although some improvements have occurred, the outbreak is still continuing. Until open and honest discussion and a collaborative approach is taken toward STI problems affecting Indigenous Australians, outbreaks such as this will continue to occur.

Type
Research Article
Information
Epidemiology & Infection , Volume 132 , Issue 5 , October 2004 , pp. 805 - 812
Copyright
© 2004 Cambridge University Press

Footnotes

The views expressed are those of the authors and may not reflect the views of the institutions which they were employed by, or affiliated with, during the writing of this paper.