Rural Communities Traveling Long Distances for STI Testing Due to Stigma, Doctor Reveals
In rural areas, individuals are going to great lengths to avoid being seen while getting tested or treated for STIs, citing ongoing stigma and shame. Dr. Aisling Loy, a Sexual Health and HIV Care Consultant, highlighted the challenges faced, including patients traveling for hours to Dublin clinics to maintain privacy. Despite a recent decrease in STI numbers, concerns remain about factors like reduced condom use and increased sexual activity. Efforts to expand access to sexual health services are seen as crucial in combating rising STI rates.
Members of the public in rural communities are traveling for many hours to reduce the risk of being seen getting tested or treated for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Consultant of Sexual Health and HIV Care at St James’s Hospital in Dublin, Dr Aisling Loy, mentioned that stigma and shame around STIs are still hindering her work. She highlighted that patients often travel long distances to avoid being seen locally due to the stigma attached to STIs.
STI figures in Ireland have increased by 31% compared to 2019 but decreased by 11% in the past year. Dr Loy noted that the numbers peaked in 2023 but have started to decline in the last two years. She attributed this decline to improved strategies and interventions, although the overall trend is still increasing due to various factors like increased access to care, reduced condom use, more sexual partners, and population growth.
Dr Loy emphasized the importance of expanding access to sexual health care to reduce STI cases. She mentioned that while progress has been made in HIV prevention, there is still a need to expand services to make care more accessible to the entire population, not just young people. Targeted messaging and initiatives like PReP (HIV prevention) and 'test and treat' have been effective in controlling HIV transmission.
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