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West of Ireland sees a 20% increase in sexually transmitted diseases
The west of Ireland has one of the highest incidence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the country.New figures from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) revealed that the HSE west had over 1,300 cases of STIs in 2006. The HPSC report stated that the HSE west exceeded the national average, with only the east of the country reporting more cases of Genital Warts (734) and Chlamydia (300).
The HSE west has seen a 20 per cent increase in STIs in the region since 2004, while the HSE north west recorded a 31 per cent rise.
Dr Catherine Fleming, consultant in infectious diseases at University College Hospital, Galway, oversees the HSE west's GUM clinics in Galway, Castlebar and Ballinasloe. She said the number of patients they are seeing has doubled in the last four years and they are struggling to cope. "Between the three clinics last year, we saw 5,314 patients. That's 200 more patients than the year before. Our clinics are bursting at the seams. We physically can't see any more patients. If this trend continues, we're going to have to start turning patients away."
Dr Fleming said that a lack of education and awareness is a big part of the problem. "More education is badly needed and that has to start in the schools when people are at an age where they begin to become sexually active." Dr Fleming said that while people are taking precautions, it is to prevent pregnancy rather than to protect themselves against STIs. "When people are becomming sexually active, they are taking precautions like going on the pill to prevent pregnancy, but they are just not thinking of STIs." She said that more young people who go travelling are returning with serious infections.
"We have seen a lot of cases of gonorrhoea, which have been picked up when people have been sexually active when abroad and have not taken the proper precautions."
Dr Fleming said that the age profile of patients tends to be between 20 and 29 years old, but they have seen patients under 17. She added that the ratio of men to women they see is almost 50-50. Many of the cases the clinic sees could be treated by local GPs, but embarrassment leads people to visit the GUM clinics instead.
"Shame and embarrassment over these infections, particularly in more rural areas, is a factor in the numbers we get to the clinics. We get people coming from all over the region to our walk-in clinic in Galway, rather than go to their own GP or to one of the GUM clinics in Castlebar or Ballinasloe. Dr Fleming added that the lack of a national strategy on tackling STIs is also contributing to the growing problem.
The west is also seeing more cases of HIV/AIDS . Dr Fleming said they have had 10 new diagnoses of HIV in their clinics and 170 patients now avail of the services of the HIV clinic in Galway.
Dr Fleming said that the age profile of patients tends to be between 20 and 29 years old, but they have seen patients under 17. She added that the ratio of men to women they see is almost 50-50. Many of the cases the clinic sees could be treated by local GPs, but embarrassment leads people to visit the GUM clinics instead.
"Shame and embarrassment over these infections, particularly in more rural areas, is a factor in the numbers we get to the clinics. We get people coming from all over the region to our walk-in clinic in Galway, rather than go to their own GP or to one of the GUM clinics in Castlebar or Ballinasloe. Dr Fleming added that the lack of a national strategy on tackling STIs is also contributing to the growing problem.
The west is also seeing more cases of HIV/AIDS . Dr Fleming said they have had 10 new diagnoses of HIV in their clinics and 170 patients now avail of the services of the HIV clinic in Galway.
"Most of these diagnoses would be due to unprotected sex. About 40 per cent of these patients would be migrants, but the number of Irish-born sufferers is rapidly increasing." The incidence of sexually transmitted infections has risen significantly in certain parts of the country, according to the latest stats.
The HPSC said four out of the eight HSE regions saw considerable rises in the rates of STIs in 2006 compared with 2005. More than two-thirds of reported cases were in the 20-29 age group.
The HPSC said four out of the eight HSE regions saw considerable rises in the rates of STIs in 2006 compared with 2005. More than two-thirds of reported cases were in the 20-29 age group.
