Study of Sexually Transmitted Infections in Hong Kong
Author Information
Author(s): Lee Shui-Shan, Ho King-Man, Cheung Georgiana MT
Primary Institution: The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Hypothesis
How does the spatial distribution of STI patients relate to their demographic and behavioral characteristics in Hong Kong?
Conclusion
There is no specific relationship between STI and the residence location of patients in Hong Kong, although older patients are more likely to attend nearby clinics.
Supporting Evidence
- Older STI patients were more likely to attend nearby clinics.
- Most patients traveled a variable distance to access STI services.
- There were no significant clinical and epidemiologic differences between neighborhood and distant STI cases.
Takeaway
The study looked at where people with STIs live and found that older people tend to go to clinics close to home, while most patients travel a distance to get treatment.
Methodology
Patients were interviewed using a standard questionnaire at 6 public STI clinics over one month, and their locations were mapped using GIS.
Potential Biases
The study may not capture the full spectrum of STI cases as it only includes those attending public clinics.
Limitations
The study only included patients who attended clinics during a one-month period, which may not represent seasonal patterns or those not using government services.
Participant Demographics
90.1% of participants were geocoded, 95.6% were ethnic Chinese, and 63.4% were male, with a median age of 34.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.063
Confidence Interval
95%CI 0.241 - 0.958
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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