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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Performance Framework - Summary report

HIV, hepatitis and sexually transmissible infections

HIV, chlamydia, infectious syphilis, gonorrhoea, hepatitis B and hepatitis C are notifiable diseases in Australia, with registers aiming to monitor, control and prevent the occurrence and spread of infectious diseases. Early detection and treatment of sexually transmissible infections (STIs) and bloodborne viruses are vital to preventing further spread and serious long-term health consequences (Department of Health 2019; Department of Health and Aged Care 2021b).

The completeness rate for Indigenous status information varies by disease, year, and by jurisdiction. Data are limited to jurisdictions where Indigenous status completeness was greater than 50% for the specified disease for all years between 2020 to 2022.
 
In 2020–2022, for First Nations people, there were:
  • 985 chlamydia notifications per 100,000 population (23,138 notifications, excludes data for Tasmania and Victoria)
  • 572 gonorrhoea notifications per 100,000 population (13,967 notifications, excludes data for Victoria)
  • 109 infectious syphilis notifications per 100,000 population (2,881 notifications).
  • 21 hepatitis B notifications per 100,000 population (322 notifications, excludes data for New South Wales and Victoria)
  • 175 hepatitis C notifications per 100,000 population (2,735 notifications, excludes data for New South Wales and Victoria).

Among First Nations people, in 2020–2022:

  • the notifications rates for chlamydia, syphilis, gonorrhoea, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C generally decreased with age.
  • the age-standardised notification rates of gonorrhoea, hepatitis C and infectious syphilis were higher, compared with rates for non-Indigenous Australians (rate ratios ranging from 8.6 for hepatitis C to 2.0 for hepatitis B).
  • the age-standardised notification rates for chlamydia, infectious syphilis, gonorrhoea and hepatitis B were higher in remote than non-remote areas. For hepatitis C, the notification rate was lower in remote than non-remote areas.

Among First Nations people in 2019–2021:

  • there were 59 newly diagnosed HIV notifications (2.3 per 100,000 population).
  • the age-standardised notification rate for HIV was lower for First Nations people than non-Indigenous Australians (rate ratio 0.9).

Between 2013 and 2022, notification rates among First Nations people decreased for chlamydia and hepatitis B, increased for infectious syphilis, and there was no statistically significant change for gonorrhoea and hepatitis C.

Between 2010–2012 and 2019–2021, there was no statistically significant change in HIV age-standardised notifications rates for First Nations people, or in the gap between First Nations people and non-Indigenous Australians.

Note that changes in notification rates over time are influenced by a range of factors including access to health care, improved screening and improved accuracy of tests.

 
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