title: Factors associated with travel to non-local genitourinary medicine clinics for gonorrhoea: an analysis of patients diagnosed in London, 2009-10.
abstract: We analysed factors associated with travelling to non-local genitourinary medicine clinics for gonorrhoea care in London. We used surveillance data on London residents attending genitourinary medicine clinics in 2009-10 and calculated distances between patients' areas of residence and both the nearest genitourinary medicine clinic and the clinic attended. Non-local clinics were attended by 5408 (46.7%) patients. Men having sex with men attended non-local services more than heterosexuals (OR 3.83, p < 0.001). Among heterosexual men, black Africans and black Caribbeans were more likely, and South Asians less likely, to attend non-local services compared to whites (OR [95%CI] 1.33 [1.04-1.72], 1.36 [1.11-1.67] and 0.46 [0.31-0.70] respectively). Similar associations, although not statistically significant, were found in women. People were more likely to attend local services if their local clinic provided walk-in and young people's services, weekend consultations and long opening hours. These findings could help design services meeting local population needs and facilitate prompt and equitable access to care.
authors: Health Protection Agency, Health Protection Services London, London, UK.
authors: Olivier
authors: O
authors: Le Polain de Waroux
authors: Gwenda
authors: G
authors: Hughes
authors: Helen
authors: H
authors: Maguire
authors: Paul D
authors: PD
authors: Crook
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044466:Asian People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D044383:Black People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000628:therapy; D015438:Health Behavior; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008131:London / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014195:Travel; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Epidemiology; Europe; Gonorrhoea (Neisseria gonorrhoeae); Sexually transmitted infection; service access; travel