{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,31]],"date-time":"2025-10-31T19:27:35Z","timestamp":1761938855410,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":28,"publisher":"CSIRO Publishing","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,5]],"date-time":"2025-05-05T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1746403200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":7110,"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1071\/journalslicense"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2005,11,16]]},"abstract":"<jats:p>Objectives: To determine the feasibility and acceptability of screening for sexually transmitted infections and blood-borne viruses and to study the profile of sexual activity and other risk behaviours in a senior high school population. Methods: In this descriptive study we provided sexual health education and screening to students from two senior high schools in the Australian Capital Territory. We collected behavioural data using a self-administered questionnaire. Urines and swabs were tested for Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct), Neisseria gonorrhoea (Ng), Trichomonas vaginalis (Tv) and human papilloma virus (HPV). Blood specimens were tested for hepatitis B and C, HIV, herpes simplex viruses (HSV-1 and HSV-2) and syphilis. Results: A total of 795 students participated (31% of the enrolled population; female to male ratio 60 : 40) and 67.0% were sexually active. Of 795 students, 644 (81.0%) were screened. Rates of infection were Ct 1.1% (95% CI: 0.4\u20132.6), HPV 11.7% (95% CI: 7.4\u201317.3), HSV-1 32.5% (95% CI: 28.9\u201336.3), HSV-2 2.4% (95% CI: 1.3\u20133.9), hepatitis B surface antigen 0.3% (95% CI: 0.04\u20131.1) and hepatitis C antibodies 0.7% (95% CI: 0.07\u20131.6). Only 22.3% (95% CI: 19.3\u201325.7) of students had immunity to hepatitis B. There were no cases of HIV, gonorrhoea, trichomoniasis or syphilis. Of the sexually active students, 49.2% (95% CI: 38.9\u201359.2%) reported never or only sometimes using condoms, 41.5% (95% CI: 32.2\u201352.3%) reported unsafe drinking, 33.3% (95% CI: 23.9\u201343.1%) were smokers and 1.9% (95% CI: 0.2\u20137.0%) reported injecting drug use. Conclusions: Rates of STI and blood-borne viruses and immunity to hepatitis B were low in this population, but unsafe sex and other risk behaviours were common. We have demonstrated that STI screening, including serological testing, was well accepted in a senior high school population.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1071\/sh05014","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2005,11,15]],"date-time":"2005-11-15T22:39:17Z","timestamp":1132094357000},"page":"229-236","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":15,"title":["Sexually transmitted infections, blood-borne viruses and risk behaviour in an Australian senior high school population\u2014the SHLiRP study"],"prefix":"10.1071","volume":"2","author":[{"given":"Francis J.","family":"Bowden","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"ACanberra Sexual Health Centre, The Canberra Hospital, PO Box 11, Woden, ACT 2605, Australia."},{"name":"BAcademic Unit of Internal Medicine, Australian National University Medical School, Canberra Clinical School, The Canberra Hospital, PO Box 11, Woden, ACT 2605, Australia."},{"name":"CCorresponding author. Email: frank.bowden@act.gov.au"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Elissa J.","family":"O\u2019Keefe","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"ACanberra Sexual Health Centre, The Canberra Hospital, PO Box 11, Woden, ACT 2605, Australia."}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Ruth","family":"Primrose","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"ACanberra Sexual Health Centre, The Canberra Hospital, PO Box 11, Woden, ACT 2605, Australia."}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Marian J.","family":"Currie","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"BAcademic Unit of Internal Medicine, Australian National University Medical School, Canberra Clinical School, The Canberra Hospital, PO Box 11, Woden, ACT 2605, Australia."}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"67","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2005,11,16]]},"reference":[{"key":"2025102418553028200_R1"},{"key":"2025102418553028200_R2"},{"key":"2025102418553028200_R3"},{"key":"2025102418553028200_R4"},{"key":"2025102418553028200_R5"},{"key":"2025102418553028200_R6"},{"key":"2025102418553028200_R7"},{"key":"2025102418553028200_R8"},{"key":"2025102418553028200_R9"},{"key":"2025102418553028200_R10"},{"key":"2025102418553028200_R11"},{"key":"2025102418553028200_R12"},{"key":"2025102418553028200_R13"},{"key":"2025102418553028200_R14"},{"key":"2025102418553028200_R15"},{"key":"2025102418553028200_R16"},{"key":"2025102418553028200_R17"},{"key":"2025102418553028200_R18"},{"key":"2025102418553028200_R19"},{"key":"2025102418553028200_R20"},{"key":"2025102418553028200_R21"},{"key":"2025102418553028200_R22"},{"key":"2025102418553028200_R23"},{"key":"2025102418553028200_R24"},{"key":"2025102418553028200_R25"},{"key":"2025102418553028200_R26"},{"key":"2025102418553028200_R27"},{"key":"2025102418553028200_R28"}],"container-title":["Sexual Health"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/connectsci.au\/sh\/article-pdf\/2\/4\/229\/143708\/sh05014.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"syndication"},{"URL":"https:\/\/connectsci.au\/sh\/article-pdf\/2\/4\/229\/143708\/sh05014.pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,24]],"date-time":"2025-10-24T22:55:37Z","timestamp":1761346537000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/connectsci.au\/sh\/article\/2\/4\/229\/20849\/Sexually-transmitted-infections-blood-borne"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2005,11,16]]},"references-count":28,"journal-issue":{"issue":"4","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2005,11,16]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1071\/sh05014","relation":{},"ISSN":["1448-5028","1449-8987"],"issn-type":[{"type":"print","value":"1448-5028"},{"type":"electronic","value":"1449-8987"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2005,11,16]]}}}