A report by the Kirby Institute shows how the COVID-19pandemic has impacted Australian STI rates. Source: PxHere
A report released by the Kirby Institute has shown of the testing and diagnoses of sexually transmitted infections (STI) in Australia was impacted COVID-19 pandemic. The report titled, HIV, viral hepatitis and sexually transmissible infections in Australia: Annual surveillance report shows that while some types of STIs have fallen, syphilis has increased.
Australian syphilis cases have increased steadily since 2011. Initial outbreaks were among gay and bisexual men in cities, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in regional and remote areas across central, northern and western Australia.
But there was also a significant increase of syphilis among women of reproductive age across the report’s data period. Dr Skye McGregor, one of the report’s authors says, “This reflects sustained and ongoing transmission across Australia, which is extremely concerning.”
Though the total numbers among women in cities is considered relatively small, Dr McGregor is still concerned about females aged from 15–44 years, due to the potential impact on pregnancy.
“The data tell us that we may need to focus on enhanced sexual health messaging about syphilis for all sexually active people who may be at risk, and ensure appropriate education for health providers.”
Thankfully, it’s not all bad news. While chlamydia and gonorrhoea were on the rise prior to the pandemic, 2021 saw a small decline.
“We believe this reduction is a consequence of both reduced testing and reduced sexual activity with new or casual partners, due to social restrictions and lockdowns during 2020 and 2021.”
Some may find the decrease in gonorrhoea diagnoses particularly reassuring due to the growing international risk of anti-biotic resistant ‘super-gonorrhoea’.
Other good news includes how in 2021, diagnoses of genital warts among non-Indigenous people under 21-years-old declined. Only five female diagnoses recorded overall. Genital warts are tracked as a marker of human papillomavirus (HPV), with low diagnoses considered a reflection of the Australian HPV vaccination program’s success.
HIV has also declined among Australian-born gay and bisexual men, largely due to high coverage of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a HIV prevention medication.
Kirby Insitute’s Professor Andrew Grulich was pleased with the decrease in HIV infections. He noted, “We’ve had tremendous success in HIV prevention. We need to carry this over to STIs, to drive down infections among this group.”
The Kirby Institute’s full report on Australian STI rates can be found here.
