IMPACT-STI study: Implementing a precision public health approach to move toward elimination of STIs, control of HIV and inform on other BBVs in regional Australia

Dates: 2020-2025 (delayed commencement due to COVID)

Over the past 15 years, attempts to control STIs and BBVs using traditional public health approaches have provided some evidence about control approaches and impacts on population prevalence and incidence.

However, more is required to shift the burden of disease.

Building on previous work, we now propose to trial a precision public health (PPH) approach which will focus on moving toward STIs elimination in the Cairns and Hinterland region of far north Queensland (FNQ).

The objectives include moving toward elimination of CT, NG, and infectious syphilis among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and in parallel, reduce locally acquired cases of HIV in the Cairns region.

Other objectives include synergising data sets to contribute to a more complete picture regarding STI and BBV risk and applying this to designing strategies to be implemented across the region, as well as assessing outcomes, acceptability, and feasibility of a PPH approach in eliminating STIs.

This Indigenous led project will inform health services of activities for other BBVs, within the service catchment. The interventions within this project will focus on elimination of STIs in the region. This will be one of the first PPH approaches offered to control STIs nationally.

Funding

NHMRC Ideas grant round, APP1185073 ($2,455,034.00)