STIs on the rise
Stats show rates of chlamydia, syphilis and gonorrhea going up near outbreak-levels in Dettah and Ndilo
Meagan Leonard
Northern News Services
Friday, June 5, 2015
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Despite being the closest communities to Yellowknife, the rates of sexually transmitted infections in Dettah and Ndilo far surpass those of the city.
Susan MacInnis, sexual health nurse with Public Health, shows a condom distributed by the GNWT last February – one method that keeps STI rates down. A report called Communities and Diamonds shows levels of sexually-transmitted infections in Ndilo, Dettah as well as Lutsel K'e are nearing levels seen during the 2008 syphilis outbreak. - NNSL file photo |
In March, the GNWT released its Communities and Diamonds annual report which outlines the prevalence of issues such as STIs, suicide, teen pregnancy and family violence. The report seeks to draw connections between the mining industry and social implications.
According to the report, cases of the three most common sexually transmitted infections in Ndilo, Dettah and Lutsel K'e - chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis - are nearing levels not seen since the widespread syphilis outbreak of 2008. During the height of the outbreak, cases spiked at 100 out of 1,000 people; in 2014 the rate was 70 out of 1,000. In comparison, Yellowknife saw levels of approximately 17 out of 1,000 in 2014 with the territory as a whole around 25.
The territory's chief public health officer Andre Corriveau attributes this mostly to a lack of education.
During the syphilis outbreak, Corriveau explained, many initiatives were put in place including training for front-line practitioners, streamlining screening, working with schools and developing the website respectme.ca to provide information to young people in the territory's smaller communities.
He said rates of other STIs were also reduced at the time and that he expects with the information found in the report, there will be a renewed dedication to those efforts.
"There was a sharp drop in STIs at that time because if you prevent syphilis, you're going to prevent other (STIs) as well," he said. "But it seemed to have a temporary effect as the curve has started to climb up again ... it's certainly on the increase again."
Corriveau added the city's transient population has always been a high-risk group as these individuals tend to have more disposable income, fewer responsibilities and drink heavily.
"Traditionally, you have a younger crowd who is away from home and when they're not working they have more money and they're not tied down with a family," he explained. "They tend to drink more and go out more and they're the highest-risk group for sexually
transmitted infections."
The authors of Communities and Diamonds concluded it is not clear whether development of the mining industry had a significant impact on the sexual health of residents.
Weledeh MLA Bob Bromley concurs with Corriveau that education in the communities is key in reducing STI rates.
In discussing the report, Bromley supposed the mining work schedule could be influencing sexual lifestyles.
"I think possibly with the mines - two weeks in, two weeks out - there may be a relationship with that," he said. "We certainly know where there are addictions issues, there are more sexually active people and the incidents can then go up."
In general, those aged 15 to 25 are flagged at being most at risk, Corriveau said.
"The rates peak at 20 or 22 and start to decline after that as people settle down - it's really associated with that young adult period."
Currently, chlamydia is the most common STI in the territory with occurrences up to 17 times the national average. Following close behind is gonorrhea with the highest rates in Canada - 18 times the national average.
In terms of education, Corriveau said the challenge is reaching out to a generation getting all of its information from social media, adding advancements in modern medicine have also given today's youth a false sense of security.
"Amongst the younger generation, the perception is that it's no big deal to get an STI ... that's a challenge we have to overcome," he said.
"It's not like it was when HIV was a problem ... now people say, 'If I get it, I'll just go and get treated' and that will be it."
The chiefs of Dettah and Ndilo couldn't be reached by press time.
