Sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBIs)

STBBIs are caused by microorganisms in blood and body fluids transmitted by sexual contact, accidental needle injury and by sharing contaminated needles and syringes or other equipment for drug use. If not treated, STBBIs can cause infertility, increased risk of cancer and other very serious illnesses.

It is important to know about STBBIs and how they can be spread, as well as the risk factors associated with various types of sexual and drug injection activity. This awareness can protect us from STBBIs as well as prompting those who are at risk or have symptoms to seek medical attention quickly and reduce the risks to themselves and others.

Public Health Sexual Health Program

There are many and various stakeholders involved in the control of STBBIs. These include Public Health, community physicians, nurse practitioners, community organizations and youth services providers. Within Public Health, a variety of programs are involved in the control of STBBIs. Public Health roles are best described as follows:

Sexual health promotion to groups and populations:

Public Health nurses in all Public Health programs work in collaboration with others government sectors, voluntary organizations, youth service providers and parents to build healthy public policy, create supportive environments, strengthen community actions, develop personal skills and adapt sexual health services to local needs.

Control services to individuals in high-risk and groups most affected by STBBIs:

Public Health nurses in the Communicable Disease program work with clinicians and affected individuals to help control the spread of STBBIs by providing education and counselling to those affected by STBBI and to their sexual and drug use partners.

Public Health nurses, nurse practitioners and physicians in the sexual health centres and outreach sites provide education, counselling, and clinical services relating to sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and birth control and other sexual health topics such as sexual identity as well as education and counselling to youths 19 and younger.

Public Health nurses in the Healthy Learners in School program provide sexual health promotion activities at the school district level and in some high schools as well as counselling in some high schools.

Other Public Health programs involved in the control of STIs include the Immunization Program providing immunization against hepatitis B and HPV; and Early Childhood Initiatives, a program that provides education to pregnant teens and teen mothers.

To talk to a health professional about STBBIs, call:

• Your health-care provider
• Tele-Care 811
• New Brunswick Sexually transmitted infections information line, 1-877-STI-1010
• New Brunswick HIV / AIDS hot-line, 1-800-561-4009