Almost 83,000 girls aged 12-15 years were diagnosed with chlamydia last year according to an Annual Surveillance Report on sexual health to be released this morning in Darwin.
“Unfortunately, this is just the tip of the iceberg,” said Professor David Wilson from the Kirby Institute.
“It is likely that there are five times as many more Australians with chlamydia that is undiagnosed, who may be at increased risk of infertility and other reproductive health problems. We estimate that as many as one-in-20 young Australians between the ages of 15 and 24 have chlamydia.”
The study, conducted by the Burnet Institute, analysed testing data from five states over three years (Victoria, NSW, Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania). It found the percentage of chlamydia positive tests among females was highest in adolescent girls aged 12-15 years (13%).
This compares with 12% in those aged 16-19 years, and 8% in women aged 20-24 years. Among males, the percentage of chlamydia positive tests was highest in those aged 16-19 years (15%) compared with 9% in boys aged 12-15 years and 13% in men aged 20-24 years.
Lead researcher Carol El-Hayek explains the higher rates in young girls.
“It is ikely (to be) due to testing of girls presenting with identified sexual risk or symptoms, whereas girls in the older age groups are more routinely tested and therefore more negative tests are captured.
“Clearly, Australian adolescents as young as 12 are vulnerable to STIs, but the younger they are, the less likely they are to be tested. We need a better understanding of the sexual risk practices of young people in order to minimise their risk and ensure they have access to testing and treatment,” says El-Hayek.
Professor Wilson says understanding the risk is a challenge. In another study presented at the conference, also by the Burnet Institute, only 1-in-7 of the young people surveyed, and at risk of an STI, were aware of it.
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