Distance as explanatory factor for sexual health centre utilization: an urban population-based study in the Netherlands

Background

The central sexual health centre (SHC) in the greater Rotterdam area in the Netherlands helps finding people unaware of their STI/HIV status. We aimed to determine a possible association between SHC utilization and travel distance in this urban and infrastructure-rich area. Insight in area-specific utilization helps adjust outreach policies to enhance STI testing.

Methods

The study population consists of all residents aged 15–45 years in the greater Rotterdam area (2015–17). We linked SHC consultation data from STI tested heterosexual clients to the population registry. The association between SHC utilization and distance was investigated by multilevel modelling, adjusting for sociodemographic and area-specific determinants. The data were also stratified by age (aged < 25 years) and migratory background (non-Western), since SHC triage may affect their utilization. We used straight-line distance between postal code area centroid and SHC address as a proxy for travel distance.

Results

We found large area variation in SHC utilization (range: 1.13–48.76 per 1000 residents). Both individual- and area-level determinants determine utilization. Travel distance explained most area variation and was inversely associated with SHC utilization when adjusted for other sociodemographic and area-specific determinants [odds ratio (OR) per kilometre: 0.95; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.93–0.96]. Similar results were obtained for residents <25 years (OR: 0.95; 95% CI: 0.94–0.96), but not for non-Western residents (OR: 0.99; 95% CI: 0.99–1.00).

Conclusions

Living further away from a central SHC shows a distance decline effect in utilization. We recommend to enhance STI testing by offering STI testing services closer to the population.

Who is providing HIV diagnostic testing? Comparing HIV testing by general practitioners and sexual health centres in five regions in the Netherlands, 2011-2018

OBJECTIVES

General practitioners (GPs) and sexual health centres (SHCs) are the main providers of HIV testing and diagnose two-thirds of HIV infections in the Netherlands. We compared regional HIV testing and positivity by GPs versus SHCs to gain insight into strategies to improve HIV testing, to enable timely detection of HIV infections.

METHODS

Laboratory data (2011-2018) on HIV testing by GPs and SHCs in five Dutch regions with varying levels of urbanisation were evaluated. Regional HIV testing rates per 10 000 residents ≥15 years (mean over period and annual) were compared between providers using negative binomial generalised additive models and additionally stratified by sex and age (15-29 years, 30-44 years, 45-59 years, ≥60 years). χ² tests were used to compare positivity percentage between the two groups of providers.

RESULTS

In the study period, 505 167 HIV tests (GP 36%, SHC 64%) were performed. The highest HIV testing rates were observed in highly urbanised regions, with large regional variations. The HIV testing rates ranged from 28 to 178 per 10 000 residents by GPs and from 30 to 378 per 10 000 by SHCs. Testing rates by GPs were lower than by SHCs in three regions and comparable in two. In all regions, men were tested less by GPs than by SHCs; for women, this varied by region. Among those aged 15-29 years old, GPs' testing rates were lower than SHCs', while this was reversed in older age categories in four out of five regions. The overall mean HIV positivity was 0.4%. In contrast to other regions, positivity in Amsterdam was significantly higher among individuals tested by GPs than by SHCs.

CONCLUSIONS

This retrospective observational study shows that besides SHCs, who perform opt-out testing for key groups, GPs play a prominent role in HIV testing, especially in non-key populations, such as women and older individuals. Large regional variation exists, requiring region-specific interventions to improve GPs' HIV testing practices.