title: The impact of syphilis mass treatment one year later: self-reported behaviour change among participants.
abstract: In 2000, syphilis mass treatment using oral azithromycin was delivered to at-risk British Columbians during a sex trade-related outbreak. The initiative included education, counselling and referral. This cross-sectional, observational study examines knowledge, attitudes and self-reported behaviour after one year among mass treatment participants compared with eligible non-participants. Participants self-reported positive changes: reduction in sexual partners overall (P=0.001) and for sex workers (P<0.01), decrease in unprotected oral sex (P=0.03), knowledge of asymptomatic syphilis (P=0.02), positive attitudes to mass treatment (P=0.02) and to the street nurses (P=0.01). Increased awareness was associated with increased condom use for vaginal sex overall (P=0.02) and for sex workers (P=0.03) and increased condom use for oral sex (P=0.05). There was no difference in syphilis incidence. Syphilis outbreak interventions that include education, support and referral can result in long-term positive behaviour changes.
authors.affiliation: University of British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada. michael.rekart@bccdc.ca
authors.forename: Michael L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Rekart
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Elsie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Kylie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hutchinson
authors.forename: Gina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ogilvie
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017963:Azithromycin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D013587:Syphilis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D017963:Azithromycin