Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium STD Program

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Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium STD Program

• Jessica Leston, MPH
• ANTHC STD Program
• Clinical and Research Services

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Overview

• STD Program
• Goals and Challenges
• STDs in Alaska
• STD response in the Tribal Health System
• HOW CAN WE BEST SERVE OUR POPULATION?
• HOW CAN WE BEST PROMOTE HEALTH?
• WHAT ARE OUR RESPONSIBILITIES?
• And, now what?

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• Raise awareness
• Build partnerships
• Improve and build programs
• Increase access to training
• Improve surveillance
• Conduct public health research
• Support outbreak response
• Encourage service integration

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• To partner with Alaska Tribal Health
  Organizations and communities to develop and
  implement innovative, effective, and culturally
  appropriate STD prevention and control
  strategies.

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Information Cycle
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Chlamydia Rates 2008

• per 100,000 persons

State of Alaska Epidemiology Bulletin
Chlamydia-trachomatis, 2008. http//www.epi.alaska
.gov/
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Chlamydia Rates 2008

• per 100,000 persons

State of Alaska Epidemiology Bulletin
Chlamydia-trachomatis, 2008. http//www.epi.alaska
.gov/
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Chlamydia

• Alaska has had the first or second highest rates
  of CT infection in the US every year since 2000.
• Alaska Native/American Indian people have the
  highest rate of infection in Alaska.
• Many groups saw a decrease in infection from 2007
  to 2008, but Alaska Native and American Indian
  people saw an increase.
• 7 in males and 1.6 in females

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Gonorrhea Rates 2008

• Overall, GC rates decreased in Alaska for 2008.
• Rates of GC increased by 53 in Alaska Native and
  American Indian males and increased 19 in Alaska
  Native and American Indian females.
• The highest GC infection rates were among Alaska
  Native and American Indian people at 229 cases
  per 100,000 males and 347 cases per 100,000
  females.

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New consideration for gonorrhea
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Gonorrhea Rates 2005-2008

• per 100,000 persons

State of Alaska Epidemiology Bulletin Increased
Incidence of Neisseria gonorrhoeae Infection in
Southwestern Alaska. http//www.epi.alaska.gov/
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Gonorrhea Cases

• Bethel and Wade Hampton Census Area (SW AK)
  2007-2009 (N283)

State of Alaska Epidemiology Bulletin Increased
Incidence of Neisseria gonorrhoeae Infection in
Southwestern Alaska. http//www.epi.alaska.gov/
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No data ? No problem
Lack of quality data can silence a community
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Information Cycle
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What do we need?

• A point person familiar with local STD testing
  practices and STD rates at each corporation.

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What do we need?

• Data from tribal health organizations so we can
  better track disease morbidity and outbreak.

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What do we need?

• Protocol at every tribal health organization to
  screen or test for STDs/HIV.
• Recommended CDC guidelines

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What do we need?
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Thank You

• Previous Work and Guidance

• Connie Jessen
• Melanie Taylor, MD
• Scott Tulloch
• Lori de Ravello, MPH
• Brigg Reilley, MPH

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Last ThoughtsQuestions
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Quayana

• Jessica Leston, MPH
• STD Program Manager, ANTHC
• Clinical and Research Services
• 1 907 274 8104
• jdleston_at_anthc.org