Sexually transmitted diseases are on the rise in Ireland, and one outreach group says the problem is even worse than official statistics show because the Irish Health Service Executive (HSE) is overstretched and as a result is under-reporting the crisis.
According to the Irish Sunday Times, the Society for the Study of Sexually Transmitted Diseases in Ireland maintains that “poor gathering of statistics by the HSE and chronic under-reporting by overstretched doctors mean the true volume of Ireland’s STI epidemic is unknown.”
The available statistics on their own show an alarming rise in the number of STDs reported in Ireland. Cases of herpes have jumped from 358 in 2002 to 1,226 in 2011. Syphilis reporting has more than doubled from 303 cases in 2002 to 653 last year, while gonorrhea cases jumped from 214 in 2002 to 834 last year.
Chlamydia presents the biggest STD problem in Ireland, with 1,922 reported cases in 2002, rising to 6,407 in 2011.
The HSE admits its statistics are less than complete. A report issued for the period of April through June of this year said there was “missing aggregate data returns from two HSE areas.”
Derek Freedman, a physician at the Dublin sexual health clinic Guide, told the Times that the HSE’s methodology for compiling STD stats is flawed.
“The statistics give an indication of the situation, but they do not represent the full volume of cases that we are seeing. They in fact fall far short of what is actually going on,” he said.
The HSE says it is implementing electronic reporting methods with a goal of creating a reliable national database to track the STD problem.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.eiriamach | Dec 31, 2012, 08:10 AM EST
Ireland has an out-of-control sex trafficking problem. Last August, a coalition of 56 organizations urged the Dáil to amend the law to make paying for sex illegal. They presented their case to the Dáil Committee reviewing laws on prostitution: "Current laws have failed and allowed a sex industry to thrive across Ireland; 1,000 women are offered for sex daily through the internet in Ireland; Evidence about children exploited through prostitution appear every year; 90% of women in prostitution want to exit, but feel unable to do so" [From "Turn Off the Red Light ie"]. The statistics in the article above are shocking and probably related to an easy market for prostitution. Does anyone know what action, if any, the government has taken to reduce sex trafficking?
WoundedKnee | Dec 31, 2012, 06:31 AM EST
Sorry about typos in previous post, IrishCentral site acting up again. Is there any reason why there is no editing facility for posts on this site?
WoundedKnee | Dec 31, 2012, 02:43 AM EST
I don't know why you spend your time posting here, bobby, you never have anything substantive to offer. In this case the statistics are incontrovertible//migrnats from Africa, more particularly the non-Islamic parts of Africa, have an extreemyl highincidence of STDs, especially AIDS. Are you so dumb as to think they leave these diseases behind them at Passport Control when they march thru Arrivals at Dublin Airport?
Bocktherobber | Dec 30, 2012, 08:42 PM EST
Does anyone bother to moderate these comments? Seriously? Racists, bigots and mentally disturbed people seem to dominate Irish Central.
cillowen | Dec 30, 2012, 06:26 PM EST
the ladies lack the control - its that eve story and with ads to bolster letting it all hang out - get smashed with drink and drugs you're adam's match.
bobby | Dec 30, 2012, 06:24 PM EST
All those immigrants Woundedknee, its all their fault.
Springfield9 | Dec 30, 2012, 02:17 PM EST
Another reason to roost in a traditional Pub!!
Springfield9 | Dec 30, 2012, 01:20 PM EST
Might be useful to mention that several of these diseases, syphilis and AIDS for example, are brought in by foreign migrnats, especially those from Africa. Worth mentioning, but you won't hear it from these sources.