Rise in attendees at gay men’s clinic
Last year, 6,050 men attended the service where tests confirmed a sexually transmitted illness in 850 cases, the latest annual report from the HSE service reveals.
There were 50 cases of HIV confirmed — an increase of 30 over 2013. More than half of those diagnosed (58%) were first-time patients.
There were 338 cases of gonorrhoea diagnosed — a 17% increase over 2013 and 38% were first time patients.
The there were 214 cases of chlamydia and, while the figure was similar to 2013, 40% were first time patients.
There were 84 syphilis cases diagnosed, an 18% rise over the previous year and 62% were first-time patients.
At the Annual Gay Health Forum in Dublin Castle last Friday, HSE service manager Mick Quinlan said 926 of the men were first-time attendees, a 7% rise on 2012.
He said more than a third (37%) were aged 24 or younger. He said the service had also seen a change in the demographic profile of clients, with half (51%) born abroad, an increase of 23% over 2013.
