Gonorrhoea in Greenland: geographic differences in diagnostic activity and incidence of gonorrhoea in 2015

• Published in: International Journal of Circumpolar Health
• Main Authors: Anne-Sophie Homøe, Sine Berntsen, Michael Lynge Pedersen
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2018
• Subjects: Neisseria gonorrhoea; Incidence; diagnostic activity; venereal disease; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Arctic; Greenland; Nuuk; Circumpolar Health; International Journal of Circumpolar Health
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1080/22423982.2018.1445938; https://doaj.org/article/52c3e064cff541feabb40a231dde86c6

For decades the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) has been a health concern in Greenland, especially within the age group of 15–34 year olds. However, no overview exists of the potential differences in regional incidence and management of STIs. This study investigates the age, gender and region specific diagnostic activity and incidence of gonorrhoea in Greenland in 2015. The study design was an observational cross sectional register study with inclusion of patients tested for gonorrhoea in 2015. Patients above 15 years of age were included. Data was obtained from the laboratory system used at The Central Laboratory at Queen Ingrid’s Hospital in Nuuk. We found, in 2015, a total of 17,911 tests for gonorrhoea were performed on both men and women. Women accounted for 68% of the tests, while men accounted for 32%. The positivity rate was 7,878 pr. 100,000 of which 56% were women and 44% were men. The regional distribution showed a disparity of the testing rate and the rate of positive gonorrhoea tests. Thus, we have documented a high diagnostic activity and high incidence of gonorrhoea in Greenland in 2015 among both women and men. We also found significant regional differences in both diagnostic activity and gonorrhoea incidence