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Frequent occurrence of undiagnosed pelvic inflammatory disease in remote communities of central Australia

Silver, Bronwyn J., Knox, Janet, Smith, Kirsty S., Ward, James S., Boyle, Jacqueline A., Guy, Rebecca J., Kaldor, John and Rumbold, Alice R. (2012). Frequent occurrence of undiagnosed pelvic inflammatory disease in remote communities of central Australia. Medical Journal of Australia,197(11):647-651.

Document type: Journal Article
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IRMA ID cmartelxPUB59
NHMRC Grant No. 568971
Title Frequent occurrence of undiagnosed pelvic inflammatory disease in remote communities of central Australia
Author Silver, Bronwyn J.
Knox, Janet
Smith, Kirsty S.
Ward, James S.
Boyle, Jacqueline A.
Guy, Rebecca J.
Kaldor, John
Rumbold, Alice R.
Journal Name Medical Journal of Australia
Publication Date 2012
Volume Number 197
Issue Number 11
ISSN 0025-729X   (check CDU catalogue open catalogue search in new window)
Scopus ID 2-s2.0-84874421764
Start Page 647
End Page 651
Total Pages 5
Place of Publication Australia
Publisher Australasian Medical Publishing Company Pty. Ltd.
HERDC Category C1 - Journal Article (DIISR)
Abstract Objective: To assess the extent of diagnosed and undiagnosed pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in Aboriginal women in remote central Australia.

Design, setting and subjects: Retrospective cross-sectional study in five remote central Australian primary health care centres. Medical records of all resident Aboriginal women aged 14–34 years were examined. Data were from presentations with documented lower abdominal pain, excluding other causes, for 2007–2008.

Main outcome measures: PID investigations undertaken, PID diagnoses made, recommended treatment, and presentations meeting the guideline criteria for diagnosing PID based on pelvic examination, symptom profile or history.

Results: Of 655 medical records reviewed, 119 women (18%) presented 224 times with lower abdominal pain. Recommended investigations to diagnose PID were infrequently undertaken: bimanual examination (15 cases [7%]); testing for gonorrhoea and chlamydia (78 [35%]); and history taking for vaginal discharge (59 [26%]), intermenstrual bleeding (27 [12%]) and dyspareunia (17 [8%]). There were 95 presentations (42%) consistent with guidelines to diagnose PID, most (87 [39%]) based on symptom profile and history. Of these, practitioners made 15 diagnoses of PID, and none had the recommended treatment documented.

Conclusion: Pelvic inflammatory disease occurred frequently among Aboriginal women in central Australia during the study period but was vastly underdiagnosed and poorly treated. Undiagnosed or inadequately treated PID leads to poorer reproductive health outcomes in the long term. Increased awareness of PID symptoms, diagnosis and treatment and a revision of the guidelines is needed to improve detection and management of PID in this high-risk setting.
DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.5694/mja11.11450   (check subscription with CDU E-Gateway service for CDU Staff and Students  check subscription with CDU E-Gateway in new window)


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