Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) trend

12 Jan 2010

Question No:  275   

Question

Name of the Person: Ms Ellen Lee Geck Hoon

To ask the Minister for Health in the past 3 years (a) how many cases of sexually transmitted diseases other than HIV (such as genital warts, herpes, venereal disease, gonorrhea etc) are seen in the clinics, public and private hospitals; (b) of these cases, how many are new cases and how many cases are Singaporeans; and (c) what trend is being detected by the Ministry from these statistics.

Reply

Reply From MOH

1. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are notifiable in Singapore.  To protect patients’ confidentiality, STI notifications need not include personal particulars. A patient who consults several doctors will chalk up several notifications.  Repeat visits to the same doctor for the same STI will however require only one notification by the doctor. 

2. Notifications of STIs, other than HIV, in the past 3 years suggest these trends.  First, the numbers are on the rise, increasing from about 11,000 in 2006 to 12,300 in 2008.  The three main STIs are gonorrhoea, non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU) and syphilis. 

3. Second, Singapore citizens accounted for about 62% of the number of infections. Based on the data in our STI Control Clinic, one-third of the attendances were new cases, with two-thirds as follow-up cases.  We do not have the breakdown of the cases seen at private clinics. 

4. Third, 70% of the cases were young adults, in their twenties or thirties.  The gender breakdown depends on the age group.  For cases below 20, two-thirds were female.  For those older than 20, two-thirds were male.

5. Fourth, the overall rate of notifications per 100,000 population has remained quite stable, increasing only marginally from 250 in 2006 to 254 in 2008.  However, while the rates have been relatively stable over the past 3 years, they are at a higher level than before. The overall rate of notifications per 100,000 population has increased about one and a half times from 155 in 2000 to 254 in 2008.  Those aged between 10 and 39 years accounted for the largest increases in STI notification rates.  For those in their twenties and thirties, the rate per 100,000 population has increased by 67%, from 270 in 2000 to 451 in 2008.  For those below 20, the rate is especially alarming, having more than doubled from 61 per 100,000 population in 2000 to 133 in 2008.

6 MOH has worked with several organisations to put in place several programmes to address the rising trend of STIs among youths.  The topic on STIs is included in the science syllabus and MOE has made it mandatory for schools to implement sexuality education.  HPB conducts regular programmes for parents in work places, schools and community venues offering them information and tips on how to broach and discuss sexuality issues, including STIs, with their children. The safe sex messages in HPB’s educational campaigns for HIV also apply to the prevention of STIs in general.