Epidemiological Aspects of Notified Sexually Transmitted Infections and a Review of the Current Surveillance System...

Objective Our study aimed to identify the epidemiological patterns of notified sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the Tabuk Region, Saudi Arabia, and to review the existing STI surveillance system. Methods We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study, extracting STI surveillance data from the Health Electronic Surveillance Network Plus (HESN Plus) database. All notified STI cases (100%) reported to the Department of Public Health, Ministry of Health in the Tabuk Region, and available in the HESN Plus database until 19 November 2024, were included in the study. The extracted data included information on the types of STIs, diagnoses, and various demographic and epidemiologic details of the patients. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 16.0 (SPSS, Chicago, IL) for Windows, employing the Chi-square test to explore associations between categorical variables. The current STI surveillance system was reviewed using specific criteria, including data completeness and the status of case investigations. Results Of the total 290 STI cases recorded in the HESN Plus system, etiologic STIs accounted for a higher proportion (210, 72.4%) compared to syndromic STIs (80, 27.6%). Vulvovaginal candidiasis was the most common etiologic STI, comprising 102 (35.2%) of the total cases, while urethral discharge syndrome was the most prevalent syndromic STI, representing 43 (14.8%) of the total. Overall, STIs were predominant among females (188, 64.8%), Saudi citizens (245, 88.4%), and middle-aged adults (138, 47.6%). The mean age of notified STI cases was 33.69±10.9 years. The majority of STIs were notified by hospitals (154, 53.1%), with the remaining cases reported by various health centers (136, 46.9%). Significant associations were found in the distribution of etiologic and syndromic STI cases by gender (p<0.001) and type of health facility (p=0.026). A remarkable proportion of records had missing data on epidemiological links (287, 99.0%) and signs and symptoms (283, 97.6%). Furthermore, 131 (45.2%) of cases were still open, indicating incomplete epidemiological or clinical investigations. Conclusion This study highlights the considerable burden of STIs in the Tabuk Region, with a higher proportion of etiologic STIs compared to syndromic STIs. The current STI surveillance system reveals substantial gaps in data completeness, especially concerning epidemiological links and signs and symptoms. These deficiencies underscore the need for improved STI reporting practices and suggest updating the data entry process by incorporating mandatory data fields within the HESN Plus system to ensure the quality of STI surveillance data. It is crucial to ensure comprehensive training for healthcare providers, including surveillance officials, and to implement targeted STI-related interventions focusing on high-risk demographics.