Sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBIs) pose major public health challenges. The World Health Organization reports that sexually transmitted infections (STIs) alone lead to approximately 374 million new cases annually worldwide, averaging about one million per day. Blood-borne infections also considerably contribute to the global health burden. In Canada, the 2018 Pan-Canadian Framework aims to mitigate the effects of STBBIs through collaborative initiatives. Saskatchewan has experienced rising incidence rates of chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and congenital syphilis. We examined the epidemiology of STBBIs in the Regina area of Saskatchewan from 2019 to 2024 using data from the provincial public health surveillance system, Panorama . The analysis focused on reported case numbers and demographic characteristics. Poisson regression models assessed associations between demographic factors and diagnoses. Sex was recorded as biological sex (male or female) in the surveillance system; gender identity was not collected. The study was part of a Quality Improvement initiative using de-identified data and did not require formal ethical review. Between 2019 and 2024, there were 11,739 reported cases of sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBIs), including chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. Syphilis cases increased significantly, while chlamydia and gonorrhea cases declined. Females had higher rates of chlamydia, while males showed elevated rates of gonorrhea, syphilis, and blood-borne viruses (BBVs). Risk factors included inconsistent condom use, multiple sexual partners (20% reported more than two partners in three months), and substance use (7.1% used injectable drugs, and 6.8% used non-injectable substances). Street involvement and a history of STBBIs were also significant predictors for these infections. STBBIs remain a significant public health issue in Regina, with syphilis rates rising sharply from 2019 to 2022. Overall, cases increased, primarily driven by syphilis and BBVs. Public health responses include dedicated STI clinics and harm-reduction programs for BBVs, but challenges persist.
Medu et al. (Sat,) studied this question.