The Distribution of People Seeking STD Services in the Various Types of Health Care Facilities in Chao Yang District, Beijing, China

Abstract

Rates of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in China have soared over the past decade. 1,2 Effective management of STDs is one of the cornerstones of HIV control and provides a unique opportunity for targeted education about HIV prevention. 3,4 A recent study in Thailand revealed that 60% of patients suffering from an STD did not seek treatment from an STD clinic. 5 To reach STD patients, it is important to determine the venues where people seek services and to evaluate the quality of treatment and prevention services in those facilities. The objectives of this study were to identify the facilities in Beijing where most people seek STD treatment and evaluate their prevention services. The study was conducted in Chao Yang District, Beijing, where only large and moderatesized hospitals are authorized to provide STD treatment. Chao Yang District is 30% urban and 70% suburban/rural. There are 1.49 million residents, of whom 12.6% are farmers and 874,000 are migrants. The majority of the population and the large hospitals and other resources are concentrated in the smaller central and northwestern parts of Chao Yang. A cross-sectional study was conducted from November to December 2002 among a sample of each type of STD treating facility. A stratified random sampling method was used to select the sample from the total of 48 comprehensive hospitals. Random samples of 2 of the 3 large hospitals, 5 of the 9 moderate-sized hospitals, and 10 of the 36 small hospitals were selected. In the large and moderate-sized hospitals, the departments providing STD services included dermatovenereology, gynecology, and urology; in the small hospitals, the departments included surgery and gynecology. Information was reviewed and records abstracted from logbooks. The numbers of people diagnosed with urethritis, epididymitis, cervicitis, or pelvic inflammatory disease were recorded. All patients from the STD Center were included.

The Incidence and Correlates of Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae Infections in Selected Populations in Five Countries

“…4 Second, these symptomatic individuals often seek treatment in pharmacies and from indigenous providers, where treatment is often inadequate, partner treatment is not offered, and no record of their treatment is kept. 5,6 Third, this strategy relies on individuals seeking treatment. Those who are asymptomatic are unlikely to seek any kind of treatment, and may have a long duration of infection, repeatedly exposing their regular partners and/or new partners to infection.…”

Pharmacy Workers’ Sexually Transmitted Diseases/Human Immunodeficiency Virus Knowledge in Fuzhou, China: Implications for Human Immunodeficiency Virus Testing, Treatment, and Prevention Strategies

“…The same pattern of health-seeking behavior also happens in China,8–13 although STD services are available in most public hospitals and eligible HIV/AIDS patients can receive free services from government-designated public health facilities 14–17. Therefore, the role of pharmacy in STD/HIV prevention and control could not be ignored.…”

Self-Reported Sexually Transmitted Disease Symptoms and Treatment-Seeking Behaviors in China

“…However, in a more recent study, Pan et al 7 found that these community health centers were underutilized and needed major adjustment to increase accessibility. Zhao et al 8 found that only 39% of patients in Beijing sought STD diagnosis and treatment in the authorized STD treatment facilities.…”

“…8,9 According to Choi et al, 9 the main sources of STD treatments among their study participants were private physicians followed by public clinics and drugstores and factors associated with treatment-seeking behaviors differed by gender. Zhao et al 8 identified pharmacies as the most common source of treatment. A study among female street sex workers in Hong Kong found that they experienced difficulty in utilizing health services and self-medicating was common.…”