International Journal of STD & AIDS > Volume 16, Number 8 > Pp. 571-578

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Original Research Article

The impact of syphilis mass treatment one year later: self-reported behaviour change among participants

Michael L Rekart, Thomas Wong, Elsie Wong, Kylie Hutchinson and Gina Ogilvie

University of British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada; STD/AIDS Control, British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Division of Community Acquired Infections, Health Canada Ottawa, ON, BC, Canada; Division of Surveillance and Risk Assessment, Health Canada, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Community Solutions Planning & Evaluation, Vancouver, BC, Canada; University of British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada; STD/AIDS Control, British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada

In 2000, syphilis mass treatment using oral azithromycin was delivered to at-risk British Columbians during a sex trade-related outbreak. The initiative included education, counselling and referral. This cross-sectional, observational study examines knowledge, attitudes and self-reported behaviour after one year among mass treatment participants compared with eligible non-participants. Participants self-reported positive changes: reduction in sexual partners overall (P=0.001) and for sex workers (P<0.01), decrease in unprotected oral sex (P=0.03), knowledge of asymptomatic syphilis (P=0.02), positive attitudes to mass treatment (P=0.02) and to the street nurses (P=0.01). Increased awareness was associated with increased condom use for vaginal sex overall (P=0.02) and for sex workers (P=0.03) and increased condom use for oral sex (P=0.05). There was no difference in syphilis incidence. Syphilis outbreak interventions that include education, support and referral can result in long-term positive behaviour changes.

Key Words: SYPHILIS • MASS TREATMENT • SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR CHANGE • AZITHROMYCIN • OUTREACH

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