A National Survey of the Provision of Sexual Health Clinical Services by Public Health in Canada: First Insights

Abstract

Objectives: Data documenting the scope of sexual health clinical services offered as public health in Canada are unavailable. This article provides first insights into the scope of STI and clinical sexual health services available nationally. Methods: Data were gathered using an online survey of 113 Canadian public health units. Results: Almost half of the clinics were not providing expedited partner therapy, one third were not providing point of care testing for HIV and one third were not using syndromic management of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Low rates of physician support were evident. Conclusion: Given the ever-higher rates of STIs, findings from this study identify important challenges to providing comprehensive services.

Keywords:

• Access to health care
• sexual health
• public health
• sexual health services
• clinics

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.