PHWR Public Health Weekly Report

Vol.14 No.35, August 26, 2021 Article TypeEpidemiology and Surveillance

• Epidemiology and Surveillance 2021-08-26

  0 364 464

  National notification trend of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in 2019-2020

  Kim Taeyoung, Cho Sang Sik, Kim Hwa Su, Choi Hoyong

  Public Health Weekly Report 2021; 14(35): 2496-2504

  

  

  Abstract

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  Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) refer to infectious diseases caused by more than 30 bacteria, viruses, and parasites that are commonly transmitted through sexual contact. In Korea, STI cases have increased over the last 10 years. The aim of this study was to review the STI epidemic and trends during the COVID-19 pandemic and the reorganization of legally defined infectious diseases. To do so, this study analyzed the 2019-2020 STI data from the National Infectious Disease Surveillance System. As a result, 26,782 cases of gonorrhea, chlamydia, chancroid, genital herpes, and condyloma acuminata, which have been monitored under the sentinel surveillance system, were reported in 2020. This marked a decline of 16.4% compared to 2019. The sentinel surveillance system expanded its monitoring coverage to syphilis and Human Papillomavirus from 2020, and 330 and 10,945 cases each were reported. It is suggested that social distancing, reduced tests, reduced treatment of STIs, and a reduced willingness to receive medical services affected the decline of case reports. However, more conclusive analysis is required.
  According to previous surveillance data in 2011-2019, reported syphilis cases were 1.8 times greater, and 5 types of STIs on sentinel surveillance were reported 3.8 times greater on 2019 compared to 2011. Although there was a decline on 2020, further increase could be predicted if the increase reflects a changing social environment and culture, and the national government should reduce their incidence and minimize their impact on people’s health by establishing and implementing national strategies on STIs based on surveillance.