E-health: potential benefits and challenges in providing and accessing sexual health services

Background

E-health has become a burgeoning field in which health professionals and health consumers create and seek information. E-health refers to internet-based health care and information delivery and seeks to improve health service locally, regionally and worldwide. E-sexual health presents new opportunities to provide online sexual health services irrespective of gender, age, sexual orientation and location.

Discussion

The paper used the dimensions of the RE-AIM model (reach, efficacy, adoption, implementation and maintenance) as a guiding principle to discuss potentials of E-health in providing and accessing sexual health services. There are important issues in relation to utilising and providing online sexual health services. For healthcare providers, e-health can act as an opportunity to enhance their clients’ sexual health care by facilitating communication with full privacy and confidentiality, reducing administrative costs and improving efficiency and flexibility as well as market sexual health services and products. Sexual health is one of the common health topics which both younger and older people explore on the internet and they increasingly prefer sexual health education to be interactive, non-discriminate and anonymous. This commentary presents and discusses the benefits of e-sexual health and provides recommendations towards addressing some of the emerging challenges.

Future directions

The provision of sexual health services can be enhanced through E-health technology. Doing this can empower consumers to engage with information technology to enhance their sexual health knowledge and quality of life and address some of the stigma associated with diversity in sexualities and sexual health experiences. In addition, e-sexual health may better support and enhance the relationship between consumers and their health care providers across different locations. However, a systematic and focused approach to research and the application of findings in policy and practice is required to ensure that E-health benefits all population groups and the information is current and clinically valid and effective, including preventative approaches for various client groups with diverse needs.

Syphilis screening among 27,150 pregnant women in South Chinese rural areas using point-of-care tests

Objectives

To determine the prevalence and correlates of syphilis among pregnant women in rural areas of South China.

Methods

Point-of-care syphilis testing was provided at 71 health facilities in less developed, rural areas of Guangdong Province. Positive samples were confirmed at a local referral center by toluidine red unheated serum tests (TRUST) and Treponema pallidum particle agglutination (TPPA) tests.

Results

Altogether 27,150 pregnant women in rural Guangdong were screened for syphilis. 106 (0.39%) syphilis cases were diagnosed, of which 78 (73.6%) received treatment for syphilis. Multivariate analysis revealed that older pregnant women (31–35 years old, aOR 2.7, 95% CI 0.99–7.32; older than 35 years old, aOR 5.9, 95% CI 2.13–16.34) and those with a history of adverse pregnant outcomes (aOR 3.64, 95% CI 2.30–5.76) were more likely to be infected with syphilis.

Conclusions

A high prevalence of syphilis exists among pregnant women living in rural areas of South China. Enhanced integration of syphilis screening with other routine women's health services (OB GYN, family planning) may be useful for controlling China's syphilis epidemic.

Sexually transmitted infections in older populations

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

People are living longer and healthier lives. In recent years, there has been a focus on recognition of ongoing sexual activity among older adults and leading from this, the potential for an increase in diagnoses of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Data on STI rates, sexual behaviour and factors affecting susceptibility to STIs are discussed.

RECENT FINDINGS

There is limited published literature in this field and few recent longitudinal studies of STI acquisition in people older than 50 years. Although there is evidence of an increase in incidence, STIs remain rare in older compared with younger populations. Compared with their heterosexual counterparts, older men who have sex with men are at higher risk of incident HIV and some other STIs. The HIV epidemic is ageing as a result of increasing life span and acquisition of HIV at older ages. Improved longevity, evolving societal norms and physiological changes may place older people at risk of HIV and other STIs.

SUMMARY

Routine STI screening is not warranted in all older people. Education and prevention strategies for all people at greater risk of HIV, regardless of age are required. Age-appropriate interventions designed to impart knowledge and provide the requisite skills needed to reduce STI risk in older age would be beneficial.