Contact tracing and sexually transmitted disease among Aboriginal men on the Anangu Pitjantjatjara lands

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Abstract
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are a major health problem for Pitjantjatjara Aboriginal people, causing considerable morbidity and being implicated in the potential rapid transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. This paper presents data in relation to STD contact tracing on the Anangu Pitjantjatjara lands. In-depth interviews were conducted with Aboriginal men and non-Aboriginal clinic staff to ascertain their attitudes to and perceptions of contact tracing. The interviews with Aboriginal men also sought more general information in relation to health-seeking behaviour and knowledge of STDs. While contact tracing has proven an effective method of case detection on the Anangu Pitjantjatjara lands (most named contacts are able to be located and a high proportion are found to be infected), the data suggest that important constraining issues are the reluctance of Aboriginal men to consult with particular health workers because of moiety group considerations, concerns about confidentiality, and the low level of knowledge of STDs, particularly of largely asymptomatic infections such as chlamydia, syphilis and HIV.

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