Accessible health care is critical to the effective control of sexually transmitted infections

Bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are rising relentlessly in virtually every country and among most risk groups. These infections have substantial individual and community consequences and costs. This review summarises the evidence for the effectiveness of different strategies to control STIs and assumes countries have sufficient financial resources to provide accessible health care. Reducing the probability of transmission essentially involves increasing condom use, which is problematic given that condom use is currently falling in most risk groups. Interventions to increase condom use are expensive and hard to sustain. Only a limited number of studies have shown it is possible to reduce the rate of partner change and sustained changes are difficult. In contrast, the provision of accessible health care has a powerful effect on the incidence rate of STIs, with dramatic falls in STIs in virtually all countries following the discovery of antibiotics. More recent studies support the powerful role of accessible health care as a strategy for putting substantial downward pressure on STI rates. Accessible health care has a powerful effect on the incidence of STIs. The professionals who are responsible for funding these services need to appreciate that they are ultimately responsible for the rates of STIs in their communities. In contrast, personal behaviour plays a less powerful role in determining the incidence of STIs and is hard to change and sustain at a population level. The public needs to appreciate that it is the governments they elect and not individuals who are responsible for the rates of STIs in their communities.