Increased consultations and numbers of sexually transmitted diseases at the STD clinic of Utrecht, 1994-2002
Haks, K.; Schout, C.; Cremer, W.S.; Sigurdsson, V.; van Ameijden, E.J.C.
Nederlands Tijdschrift Voor Geneeskunde 148(33): 1632-1635
2004
ISSN/ISBN: 0028-2162 PMID: 15455511 Document Number: 581047
To determine trends in numbers of visitors and their demographic characteristics, reasons for visit, number of STDs and high-risk groups. Secondary analysis of registration data. Data of every client that visited the STD clinic in Utrecht, the Netherlands, were aggregated from 1994 to 2002 in order to analyse trends. The number of visitors as well as the number of STDs rose strongly over the period investigated. The age of the visitors decreased. In 1994 17% of the visitors was born outside the Netherlands, in 2002 6%. The majority of the clients (56%) visited the STD clinic to get themselves tested preventively and 27% came because of symptoms. Visitors with symptoms or who were warned by others had a three-fold increased risk of having an STD. Other risk groups were: homosexual men, visitors born outside the Netherlands and visitors who have had an STD before. Groups with an increased risk of having a Chlamydia trachomatis infection were: visitors aged under 34 years old and visitors born in Morocco, Surinam and the Antilles. The number of Chlamydia infections rose sharply among homosexual male visitors. The increase in the number of visitors and of STD requires an increase in STD prevention, aimed at high-risk groups. More research is needed into the limited help-seeking behaviour of immigrants and more attention needs to be paid to Chlamydia trachomatis infections among homosexual men.