The decentralization of syphilis screening for improved care in Jamaican public clinics

This study examined the decentralization of syphilis screening for improved care in Jamaican public clinics. One of every five serum samples tested at the six peripheral sites was frozen and retested at the central laboratory in Kingston. Patient files and laboratory logbooks were compared over a 3-...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inAmerican journal of public health (1971) Vol. 87; no. 6; pp. 1019 - 1021
Main Authors BEHETS, F. M.-T, BRATHWAITE, A, BENNETT, L, DOUGLAS, K.-G, DALLABETTA, G. A, FIGUEROA, J. P
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Washington, DC American Public Health Association 01.06.1997
Subjects
Biological and medical sciences
Blood tests
Case management
Clinics
Congenital diseases
Decentralization
General aspects
Health facilities
Jamaica
Medical laboratories
Medical sciences
Medical screening
Patients
Planification. Prevention (methods). Intervention. Evaluation
Pregnancy
Public health
Public health. Hygiene
Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine
Quality control
Reagents
Screening
Sexually transmitted diseases
STD
Syphilis
Womens health
Central America
Jamaica
America
West Indies
Human
Health system
Health service
Medical screening
Treponematosis
Infection
Sexually transmitted disease
Treatment
Public health organization
Syphilis
Bacteriosis
Decentralization
Public health
Spirachaetosis
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Summary:This study examined the decentralization of syphilis screening for improved care in Jamaican public clinics. One of every five serum samples tested at the six peripheral sites was frozen and retested at the central laboratory in Kingston. Patient files and laboratory logbooks were compared over a 3-month period. Between May 1993 and December 1994, 15.5% of 32913 patients with sexually transmitted diseases and 8.3% of 8914 women seeking prenatal care were found syphilis seroreactive. Of 2001 samples evaluated, 1933 (96.6%) had been correctly reported at the peripheral sites. Of 129 syphilis seroreactors detected at the peripheral sites, 88 (68%) were treated the same day and 21 (16%) more within 3 days after testing. Syphilis seroreactors were accurately detected and quickly treated at the peripheral sites. If these efforts can be sustained, Jamaican syphilis rates should decrease.
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ISSN:0090-0036
1541-0048
DOI:10.2105/AJPH.87.6.1019