nhs report reveals shocking rates of sexually-transmitted diseases in the young
Syphilis cases in Scotland hit highest level in 50 years
Published:
Cases of syphilis have reached their highest level in Scotland for more than 50 years, according to a new report.
Figures published yesterday showed there were 264 cases of the infectious disease diagnosed at specialist sexual health clinics in 2008.
That is up from the previous year, when there were 249 cases, and is the highest total recorded since 1952.
The NHS study of Scotland’s sexual health showed that Grampian had the highest rate of abortions among women aged 25-44 in 2008 which equates to nine in every 1,000 people.
The Grampian board, along with NHS Highland and NHS Dumfries and Galloway, had the highest uptake of HIV testing in clinics, 94%, over the same period.
The rate of genital warts diagnosed in women aged 25-44 in the Highland area was the highest in Scotland in 2008 – around 170 cases per 100,000 people.
The highest sexually-transmitted disease rates in women and men aged under 25 in Scotland were found in Tayside – around 2,800 people in a population of 100,000.
The rate of genital chlamydia diagnosed among men and women in the NHS Tayside board area was the highest in Scotland – around 470 women and about 410 men per 100,000 people.
Tayside has the highest mainland teenage pregnancy rate – 75 per 1,000 people – and the highest rate of abortion among the under 25s in Scotland – around 27 per 1,000 people.
Labour and Liberal Democrat MSPs said they are “very concerned” by the rise in sexually-transmitted infections, and urged the government and NHS to do more to ensure that the safe sex message gets through to the public.
Catherine Murphy, of the Terrence Higgins Trust sexual health charity, said: “More must be done to encourage young people in Scotland to protect themselves and test regularly.”
The report showed that almost three-quarters of all cases of chlamydia across the country are diagnosed in under-25s. There were 19,054 cases of the disease diagnosed in 2008, and 72% of these were aged under 25 – despite this group making up only 13% of the country’s population.
Figures also showed that 59% of cases of genital warts and 61% of all diagnoses of gonorrhoea were in this age group.
The report revealed there were 1,073 diagnoses of gonorrhoea in 2008 – 6% up from the year before, with a 30% increase in cases in women and an 8% decrease in cases in men.
Report co-author Dr Lesley Wallace of Health Protection Scotland said: “We need to continue to encourage behavioural change, including safer sex and regular sexual health check-ups, especially for those with new or casual sex partners.”
Public Health Minister Shona Robison said the government is concerned that rates of sexually-transmitted infections are continuing to rise, and the government is working with health boards and their partner organisations to promote safer sex.
She added: “Government has a role to play but individuals also have a responsibility to take necessary precautions when deciding to embark on sexual relationships and to recognise the possible consequences of risk-taking behaviour.”
