• Jane L Goller, James Ward, Mark Saunders, Sophie Couzos, John Kaldor, Margaret A Hellard, and Australian Collaboration for Chlamydia Enhanced Sentinel Surveillance System (ACCESS) Collaborative.
• Centre for Population Health, Burnet Institute, Victoria, Australia. jane@burnet.edu.au
• Aust N Z J Public Health. 2012 Dec 1; 36 (6): 577-81.

ObjectiveTo measure chlamydia testing and positivity rates among 16-39 year olds attending Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHSs).MethodsRetrospective non-identifiable computerised records containing consultation and chlamydia testing data were collected for patients (16-39 years) attending eight ACCHSs during 2008-09 in urban, regional and remote settings for the Australian Collaboration for Chlamydia Enhanced Sentinel Surveillance (ACCESS) system. Annual chlamydia testing and positivity rates were estimated.ResultsOver two years, 13,809 patients aged 16-39 years (57.8% female, 82.3% Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander) attended. The annual overall chlamydia testing rate was 13.0% (2008) and 16.0% (2009). Testing rates were higher among females (p<0.001) and among patients aged 16-29 than 30-39 years (males: p=0.01; females: p<0.001). Chlamydia positivity was 8.5% overall; similar in females (8.7%) and males (7.8%) (p=0.46); highest among 16-19 years (females: 17.4%; males: 13.0%), declining to 1.5% among females 35-39 years (p<0.001) and 4.8% among males 30-34 years (p<0.001).ConclusionsChlamydia testing at these ACCHSs approached recommended levels among some patient groups, however, it should increase. High positivity among younger people highlights they should be targeted.ImplicationsYoung people should be targeted for sexual health interventions. ACCHSs are well placed to provide enhanced sexual health services if appropriately resourced.© 2012 The Authors. ANZJPH © 2012 Public Health Association of Australia.

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