Reducing the harm and health inequalities caused by sexually transmitted infections
UK Health Security Agency
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care.
UKHSA’s Dr Kate Folkard explains how a new STI prioritisation framework will help local services reduce the harm caused by sexually transmitted infections and address health inequalities.
The rise in sexually transmitted infections is a major public health concern. In 2023 we saw the highest number of gonorrhoea diagnoses on record and the highest number of syphilis diagnoses since 1948. Rates of new STI diagnoses are consistently highest within certain population groups including young people aged 15 to 24 years, black ethnic populations, gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM), and people residing in the most deprived areas.
These infections can cause serious health issues if left untreated and STIs are still the cause of significant stigma and emotional distress. They also cause more severe health problems in certain groups compared to others, whilst some groups face greater barriers to accessing services. The nature of health harms and the impact of inequalities experienced between population groups make STIs a significant and costly public health problem.
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How the STI prioritisation framework will help to break down these barriers
This evidence-based framework, developed in consultation with stakeholders including the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV, the Association of Directors of Public Health and the Local Government Association, will aid those who are planning and delivering sexual health services to re-focus efforts on reducing the harms caused by these infections and tackle health inequalities.
It is laid out in three clear stages; S, T and I, standing for Situation, Target Groups and Interventions. This will encourage sexual health commissioners and providers to understand their local situation before identifying which infections and which population groups to focus on. They can then tailor the appropriate interventions for those populations such as vaccination, targeted testing and encouraging condom use.
By using our resources as effectively as possible we can ensure we’re having the greatest impact, so we hope that our colleagues across the public health sector find this useful.
Find out more: STI Prioritisation Framework - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
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