Exploration of testing practices and population characteristics support an increase in chlamydia positivity in Tasmania between 2001 and 2010
Abstract Objective: The proportion of positive chlamydia tests in young people in Tasmania increased significantly between 2001 and 2010. While female positivity rates increased steadily, male positivity rose steeply to 2005 then stabilised. Crude positivity rates can be influenced by a variety of f...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2016-08-01
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| Series: | Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1111/1753-6405.12502 |
| _version_ | 1797727465209069568 |
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| author | Nicola Stephens David Coleman Kelly Shaw Maree O'Sullivan Hassan Vally Alison Venn |
| author_facet | Nicola Stephens David Coleman Kelly Shaw Maree O'Sullivan Hassan Vally Alison Venn |
| author_sort | Nicola Stephens |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Objective: The proportion of positive chlamydia tests in young people in Tasmania increased significantly between 2001 and 2010. While female positivity rates increased steadily, male positivity rose steeply to 2005 then stabilised. Crude positivity rates can be influenced by a variety of factors making interpretation difficult. Unique Tasmanian datasets were used to explore whether symptom status, reason for testing or sexual exposure could explain the observed positivity trends. Methods: Population‐level chlamydia positivity rates in Tasmania over a 10‐year period were compared with surveillance data collected on people aged 15 to 29 years notified with chlamydia. Results: The proportion of asymptomatic chlamydia cases increased, with the largest increase in males aged 15 to 19 years (28%). Opportunistic testing of cases increased (greatest in males, range 17–32%). Sexual exposure remained consistent. Conclusions: After allowing for any changes in sexual exposure, symptom status and reason for testing, an increase in chlamydia positivity occurred over the 10 years. Healthcare providers have increased chlamydia testing in high‐risk groups. Implications: Monitoring chlamydia testing patterns and positivity rates at a population level is a step forward in surveillance practices. Targeted surveys provide valuable information to supplement routine surveillance data. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T11:00:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fcad6c3a40b64cb6a88439c0c8c11513 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1326-0200 1753-6405 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T11:00:07Z |
| publishDate | 2016-08-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-fcad6c3a40b64cb6a88439c0c8c115132023-09-02T05:53:32ZengElsevierAustralian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health1326-02001753-64052016-08-0140436236710.1111/1753-6405.12502Exploration of testing practices and population characteristics support an increase in chlamydia positivity in Tasmania between 2001 and 2010Nicola Stephens0David Coleman1Kelly Shaw2Maree O'Sullivan3Hassan Vally4Alison Venn5Communicable Disease Epidemiology and Surveillance, Department of Health and Human Services VictoriaCommunicable Disease Epidemiology and Surveillance, Department of Health and Human Services VictoriaPopulation Epidemiology, Department of Health and Human Services TasmaniaGold Coast Sexual Health Service Queensland HealthFaculty of Health Sciences La Trobe University VictoriaMenzies Institute for Medical Research University of TasmaniaAbstract Objective: The proportion of positive chlamydia tests in young people in Tasmania increased significantly between 2001 and 2010. While female positivity rates increased steadily, male positivity rose steeply to 2005 then stabilised. Crude positivity rates can be influenced by a variety of factors making interpretation difficult. Unique Tasmanian datasets were used to explore whether symptom status, reason for testing or sexual exposure could explain the observed positivity trends. Methods: Population‐level chlamydia positivity rates in Tasmania over a 10‐year period were compared with surveillance data collected on people aged 15 to 29 years notified with chlamydia. Results: The proportion of asymptomatic chlamydia cases increased, with the largest increase in males aged 15 to 19 years (28%). Opportunistic testing of cases increased (greatest in males, range 17–32%). Sexual exposure remained consistent. Conclusions: After allowing for any changes in sexual exposure, symptom status and reason for testing, an increase in chlamydia positivity occurred over the 10 years. Healthcare providers have increased chlamydia testing in high‐risk groups. Implications: Monitoring chlamydia testing patterns and positivity rates at a population level is a step forward in surveillance practices. Targeted surveys provide valuable information to supplement routine surveillance data.https://doi.org/10.1111/1753-6405.12502chlamydia positivitytesting practicespublic health surveillancepopulation levelsymptom status |
| spellingShingle | Nicola Stephens David Coleman Kelly Shaw Maree O'Sullivan Hassan Vally Alison Venn Exploration of testing practices and population characteristics support an increase in chlamydia positivity in Tasmania between 2001 and 2010 Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health chlamydia positivity testing practices public health surveillance population level symptom status |
| title | Exploration of testing practices and population characteristics support an increase in chlamydia positivity in Tasmania between 2001 and 2010 |
| title_full | Exploration of testing practices and population characteristics support an increase in chlamydia positivity in Tasmania between 2001 and 2010 |
| title_fullStr | Exploration of testing practices and population characteristics support an increase in chlamydia positivity in Tasmania between 2001 and 2010 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploration of testing practices and population characteristics support an increase in chlamydia positivity in Tasmania between 2001 and 2010 |
| title_short | Exploration of testing practices and population characteristics support an increase in chlamydia positivity in Tasmania between 2001 and 2010 |
| title_sort | exploration of testing practices and population characteristics support an increase in chlamydia positivity in tasmania between 2001 and 2010 |
| topic | chlamydia positivity testing practices public health surveillance population level symptom status |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1111/1753-6405.12502 |
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