 |
Purpose of This Module
In this module, we will provide
an overview of the management of STIs/RTIs, with particular emphasis on
the three main approaches to STI/RTI diagnosis:
- The clinical approach
- The etiological approach
- The syndromic approach
Critical Components of
STI/RTI Management
The objectives of
STI/RTI management are to diagnose the infection, provide treatment, encourage
change in sexual behaviors and other risk-reduction strategies, and ensure
that sexual partners are appropriately treated. High-quality
management of STIs is important because it:
- Prevents the development
of long-term complications
- Reduces the length of time
a person is infected and, therefore, the further spread of STIs
- Reduces the level of STIs
in the population that present an increased risk for sexual transmission
of HIV
- Allows for education and
counseling on risk reduction and health-seeking behaviors
- Generally improves the
quality of people’s lives
Management of STIs/RTIs involves
more than simply diagnosis and treatment of the infection. It also consists
of the following critical components:
- Counseling and education:
Client-centered counseling helps prevent the spread of infection and
reduce clients’ risk for infection and reinfection. Counseling
and education also provide clients with information on potential complications,
as well as strategies to change risky sexual behaviors.
- Condom promotion:
Demonstration/instruction in the correct use of condoms and access to
an adequate supply of condoms are essential parts of STI management.
Programs should help clients understand the importance of consistent
and correct use and the steps of proper condom use, as well as help
them develop skills for negotiating condom use.
- Adherence with treatment:
Providers must educate clients about the importance of following and
completing treatment regimens, even after all symptoms have disappeared.
Providers should explore ways that clients can successfully adhere to
treatment regimens by identifying potential barriers to adherence (e.g.,
costs, schedule, family or partner finding out) and strategize ways
to overcome these barriers.
- Partner notification:
When feasible, sexual partners of clients with STIs should be notified
and encouraged to seek appropriate care (however, strict confidentiality
is critical, and issues of domestic violence or potential harm to the
client must also be addressed). Treating partners prevents the further
spread of the infection and reinfection of the client. There are three
options for notifying partners: 1) clients can be counseled about talking
to their partners on their own, 2) providers can tell partners in conjunction
with clients, and 3) if resources permit, providers or public health
workers can inform partners.
These four components are
sometimes referred to as the “Four C’s”:
- Counseling and education
- Condom promotion
- Compliance with treatment
- Contacting partners
© 2007 EngenderHealth
|
