Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) have risen dramatically in Hobsons Bay, while Maribyrnong recorded the highest rate in the western region, according to a report released last month by HealthWest.
The Population Health Data report compared STI rates in Brimbank, Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong, Melton and Wyndham.
Maribyrnong had the highest rate at 551 cases per 100,000 people, followed by Wyndham (549), Brimbank (410), Hobsons Bay (392) and Melton (365).
The Victorian average was 438.
Across the five western municipalities, 5935 people had chlamydia, 803 had gonococcal infection, 121 had infectious syphilis and 237 had other syphilis.
“Across the north-west metropolitan region, females were more likely than males to have been reported as having chlamydia,” the report states.
“Males were significantly more likely than females to have been reported as having gonococcal infection, [and] syphilis [infectious or other].”
Women’s Health West has previously called for improvements to sex education and access to health services to stem rising STI rates.
Its research found sexually active young people in Hobsons Bay and Maribyrnong were the least likely in Melbourne’s west to use condoms.
The HealthWest report found Melton had the highest rate of teenage pregnancy, followed by Maribyrnong, Wyndham, Hobsons Bay and Brimbank.
Responding to a 58 per cent increase in STI notifications in Hobsons Bay between 2007 and 2012, a project called ‘Our access to service’ has been implemented in the municipality.
It has led to western region secondary school nurses, the council’s school-focused youth service, Altona Secondary College and Youth Worx making a DVD, which teaches and discusses good sexual health.
