Dr. Smucker et Jc. Thomas, EVIDENCE OF THOROUGH REPORTING OF SEXUALLY-TRANSMITTED DISEASES IN A SOUTHERN RURAL COUNTY, Sexually transmitted diseases, 22(3), 1995, pp. 149-154
Background and Objectives: Private physicians outside the South have b
een found to report half or fewer of the sexually transmitted diseases
that they diagnose, The authors studied whether this is also true in
a Southern rural county.Study Design: Reports of gonorrhea and chlamyd
ia infection from private physician practices in a rural North Carolin
a county were compared with laboratory records of positive test result
s, The proportions reported through 8 months of passive surveillance w
ere compared with the proportion reported during 2 months of active we
ekly telephone surveillance. Results: A total of 72% of all positive g
onorrhea test results and 55% of all chlamydia test results were repor
ted through passive surveillance, The proportions increased to 88% and
79%, respectively, with active surveillance, A separate system of mul
tiple checks ensured complete reporting of syphilis that was not affec
ted by surveillance type. Conclusions: A relatively high proportion of
sexually transmitted diseases diagnosed by private physicians was rep
orted in this rural county. Potential reasons include physician awaren
ess of reporting requirements, delegation of reporting to clinical sta
ff, and personal acquaintance with the health department staff.