JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Viral and bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STI) are public health concerns worldwide but surveillance systems are not comprehensive enough to design and monitor accurately STI control strategies in most countries. In 2016, 320 STI clinics (CeGIDD in French) with expanded sexual health missions were implemented in France, primarily targeting most exposed populations, although access is free of charge for anybody.

Objective:

This article describes the mandatory surveillance system (SurCeGIDD) based on CeGIDDs’ individual data aiming to better guide STI prevention.

Methods:

A decree ensured the use of software to manage consultations in CeGIDDs and to transfer surveillance data. A webservice was implemented to secure data transfer from CeGIDDs’ softwares to a centralized database. CeGIDDs can also transfer data in CSV format via a secured data-sharing platform. Then, data are automatically checked before integration. Socio-demographic variables, sexual exposure, blood exposure, symptoms, STI tests, STI diagnoses and sexual health services delivery were collected for the previous year (n-1). Preliminary and descriptive analyses of 2017-2018 data, respectively transmitted in 2018 and 2019, were performed using numbers and proportions for qualitative variables.

Results:

In 2017, 54 (out of 320 , i.e. 17%) of CeGIDD transmitted their data. In 2018, this number of participants increased to 143 (45%) CeGIDDs. Corresponding volume of records increased from 2,414 in 2017 to 382,890 in 2018. In 2018, majority of attendances were hospital based (69%, n= 263,480). Considering the growing volume of information, an advisory committee was set up to guide the construction of algorithms enabling accurate data management and analyses.

Conclusions:

The automated surveillance SurCeGID is functional despites challenges hampering its expansion. The effectiveness of surveillances using routinely collected records, demonstrated through the monitoring of Covid-19 pandemic, might help to better guide and evaluate STI prevention and services delivery.