Text message reminders do not improve hepatitis B vaccination rates in an Australian sexual health setting.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of text message reminders (short messaging service (SMS)) on hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination completion among high risk sexual health center attendees.

Materials And Methods: In September 2008, Sydney Sexual Health Centre implemented an SMS reminder system. The authors assessed the impact of the reminder system on HBV vaccination rates among patients who initiated a course.

Incidence and predictors of annual chlamydia testing among 15-29 year olds attending Aboriginal primary health care services in New South Wales, Australia.

Background: For the past two decades, chlamydia has been the most commonly notified infectious disease among young people (15-29 year olds) in Australia, the United States of America and the United Kingdom and rates have increased annually in these three countries. In Australia, rates of chlamydia are three times higher in Aboriginal compared with non-Aboriginal people. Australian sexually transmissible infection guidelines recommend annual chlamydia testing for 15-29 year old females and males.

A sexual health quality improvement program (SHIMMER) triples chlamydia and gonorrhoea testing rates among young people attending Aboriginal primary health care services in Australia.

Background: In Australia, chlamydia is the most commonly notifiable infection and over the past ten years chlamydia and gonorrhoea notification rates have increased. Aboriginal compared with non-Aboriginal Australians have the highest notifications rates of chlamydia and gonorrhoea. Regular testing of young people for chlamydia and gonorrhoea is a key prevention strategy to identify asymptomatic infections early, provide treatment and safe sex education.

Attendance patterns and chlamydia and gonorrhoea testing among young people in Aboriginal primary health centres in New South Wales, Australia.

Unlabelled: Background To inform a sexual health quality improvement program we examined chlamydia and gonorrhoea testing rates among 15-29 year olds attending Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHS) in New South Wales, Australia, and factors associated with chlamydia and gonorrhoea testing.

Methods: From 2009 to 2011, consultation and testing data were extracted from four ACCHS. Over the study period, we calculated the median number of consultations per person and interquartile range (IQR), the proportion attending (overall and annually), the proportion tested for chlamydia and gonorrhoea, and those who tested positive.

Access to antiretroviral therapy and survival in eastern Europe and central Asia: a case study in Armenia.

Introduction: Antiretroviral therapy (ART) substantially improves the health of people living with HIV and contributes to preventing new infections. While HIV incidence is decreasing in most regions, the epidemic in eastern Europe continues to rise, as new infections currently outnumber the rate of ART initiation. In this study, we assess ART use in Armenia and its impact on the number of AIDS diagnoses and mortality.

Chronic hepatitis B prevalence among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians since universal vaccination: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: In Australia, higher rates of chronic hepatitis B (HBsAg) have been reported among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (Indigenous) compared with non-Indigenous people. In 2000, the Australian government implemented a universal infant/adolescent hepatitis B vaccination program. We undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the disparity of HBsAg prevalence between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, particularly since 2000.

Epidemiology of chlamydia and gonorrhoea among Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, 2000-2009.

Objectives: To assess notification trends for chlamydia and gonorrhoea infections in Indigenous Australians compared with non-Indigenous Australians in 2000-2009.

Design And Setting: We assessed trends in national notification rates using univariate Poisson regression and summary rate ratios.

Main Outcome Measures: Crude notification rates and summary rate ratios, by Indigenous status, sex, age and area of residence.

Perinatal exposure to HIV among children born in Australia, 1982-2006.

Objective: To describe the pattern of perinatal HIV exposure and outcomes among children born in Australia, 1982-2006.

Design And Setting: National surveillance for perinatal HIV exposure.

Participants: Women with HIV infection and their perinatally exposed children.