Lessons from management of syphilis in Nunavut, Canada, 2012–2020
Background: Nunavut, part of Inuit Nunangat, is a geographically vast territory in northern Canada, with a population of over 38,000 people. Most (85%) of the population identify as Inuit. Nunavut has experienced a significant rise in heterosexual infectious syphilis cases since 2012. Management of...
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Public Health Agency of Canada
2022
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:416edd6965624a798c1f5c9aa2bf8914 2023-05-15T15:13:53+02:00 Lessons from management of syphilis in Nunavut, Canada, 2012–2020 Ameeta E Singh Kethika Kulleperuma Jenny Begin Jessica DeGuzman Diane Sammurtok Obed Anoee Theresa Koonoo Jasmine Pawa 2022-02-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.14745/ccdr.v48i23a08 https://doaj.org/article/416edd6965624a798c1f5c9aa2bf8914 EN FR eng fre Public Health Agency of Canada https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/reports-publications/canada-communicable-disease-report-ccdr/monthly-issue/2022-48/issue-2-3-february-march-2022/nunavut-canada-management-syphilis-2012-2020.html https://doaj.org/toc/1481-8531 doi:10.14745/ccdr.v48i23a08 1481-8531 https://doaj.org/article/416edd6965624a798c1f5c9aa2bf8914 Canada Communicable Disease Report, Vol 48, Iss 2-3, Pp 102-110 (2022) syphilis canada arctic region epidemiology public health community health representative Infectious and parasitic diseases RC109-216 article 2022 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.14745/ccdr.v48i23a08 2022-12-31T16:15:14Z Background: Nunavut, part of Inuit Nunangat, is a geographically vast territory in northern Canada, with a population of over 38,000 people. Most (85%) of the population identify as Inuit. Nunavut has experienced a significant rise in heterosexual infectious syphilis cases since 2012. Management of communicable diseases, including syphilis, is challenging due to high staff turnover and long delays in specimen transport times. Social determinants of health are also an important contributor. The aim of this study is to describe the epidemiology and program elements for infectious syphilis from 2012–2020 and to highlight beneficial interventions. Methods: Syphilis is a notifiable disease in Nunavut with all cases reported to the Territorial Department of Health. Cases were staged by a medical consultant. Data were analyzed and released in public reports as part of the public health program. Results: From 2012 to 2020, 655 infectious syphilis cases were reported, with 53% of reported cases among females. Infection rates were highest in 20 to 39-year-olds. There was significant variability in reported cases over this time period by geographic region, with the majority of infectious cases reported from the Kivalliq region. Despite 48 reported cases in pregnancy, no confirmed congenital syphilis cases were identified. Program staff identified strengths of the response as well as ongoing needs, such as plain language resources available in multiple languages. Conclusion: Despite the logistical challenges with syphilis management in the territory, the overall outcomes have been positive, with no confirmed congenital cases identified. We attribute this to a coordinated effort by multiple partners including key actions by public health nurses and community health representatives. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic inuit Kivalliq Nunavut Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Arctic Nunavut Canada Canada Communicable Disease Report 48 2-3 102 110 |
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Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English French |
topic |
syphilis canada arctic region epidemiology public health community health representative Infectious and parasitic diseases RC109-216 |
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syphilis canada arctic region epidemiology public health community health representative Infectious and parasitic diseases RC109-216 Ameeta E Singh Kethika Kulleperuma Jenny Begin Jessica DeGuzman Diane Sammurtok Obed Anoee Theresa Koonoo Jasmine Pawa Lessons from management of syphilis in Nunavut, Canada, 2012–2020 |
topic_facet |
syphilis canada arctic region epidemiology public health community health representative Infectious and parasitic diseases RC109-216 |
description |
Background: Nunavut, part of Inuit Nunangat, is a geographically vast territory in northern Canada, with a population of over 38,000 people. Most (85%) of the population identify as Inuit. Nunavut has experienced a significant rise in heterosexual infectious syphilis cases since 2012. Management of communicable diseases, including syphilis, is challenging due to high staff turnover and long delays in specimen transport times. Social determinants of health are also an important contributor. The aim of this study is to describe the epidemiology and program elements for infectious syphilis from 2012–2020 and to highlight beneficial interventions. Methods: Syphilis is a notifiable disease in Nunavut with all cases reported to the Territorial Department of Health. Cases were staged by a medical consultant. Data were analyzed and released in public reports as part of the public health program. Results: From 2012 to 2020, 655 infectious syphilis cases were reported, with 53% of reported cases among females. Infection rates were highest in 20 to 39-year-olds. There was significant variability in reported cases over this time period by geographic region, with the majority of infectious cases reported from the Kivalliq region. Despite 48 reported cases in pregnancy, no confirmed congenital syphilis cases were identified. Program staff identified strengths of the response as well as ongoing needs, such as plain language resources available in multiple languages. Conclusion: Despite the logistical challenges with syphilis management in the territory, the overall outcomes have been positive, with no confirmed congenital cases identified. We attribute this to a coordinated effort by multiple partners including key actions by public health nurses and community health representatives. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Ameeta E Singh Kethika Kulleperuma Jenny Begin Jessica DeGuzman Diane Sammurtok Obed Anoee Theresa Koonoo Jasmine Pawa |
author_facet |
Ameeta E Singh Kethika Kulleperuma Jenny Begin Jessica DeGuzman Diane Sammurtok Obed Anoee Theresa Koonoo Jasmine Pawa |
author_sort |
Ameeta E Singh |
title |
Lessons from management of syphilis in Nunavut, Canada, 2012–2020 |
title_short |
Lessons from management of syphilis in Nunavut, Canada, 2012–2020 |
title_full |
Lessons from management of syphilis in Nunavut, Canada, 2012–2020 |
title_fullStr |
Lessons from management of syphilis in Nunavut, Canada, 2012–2020 |
title_full_unstemmed |
Lessons from management of syphilis in Nunavut, Canada, 2012–2020 |
title_sort |
lessons from management of syphilis in nunavut, canada, 2012–2020 |
publisher |
Public Health Agency of Canada |
publishDate |
2022 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.14745/ccdr.v48i23a08 https://doaj.org/article/416edd6965624a798c1f5c9aa2bf8914 |
geographic |
Arctic Nunavut Canada |
geographic_facet |
Arctic Nunavut Canada |
genre |
Arctic inuit Kivalliq Nunavut |
genre_facet |
Arctic inuit Kivalliq Nunavut |
op_source |
Canada Communicable Disease Report, Vol 48, Iss 2-3, Pp 102-110 (2022) |
op_relation |
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/reports-publications/canada-communicable-disease-report-ccdr/monthly-issue/2022-48/issue-2-3-february-march-2022/nunavut-canada-management-syphilis-2012-2020.html https://doaj.org/toc/1481-8531 doi:10.14745/ccdr.v48i23a08 1481-8531 https://doaj.org/article/416edd6965624a798c1f5c9aa2bf8914 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.14745/ccdr.v48i23a08 |
container_title |
Canada Communicable Disease Report |
container_volume |
48 |
container_issue |
2-3 |
container_start_page |
102 |
op_container_end_page |
110 |
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1766344401232068608 |