Lambeth has the second highest rate of STI's in England

Date: 25/08/2010

In the first year of detailed local figures being available, nine of the 31 London Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) had the highest rates of infection, with greater than 1,500 STIs per 100,000 of the population. Almost three quarters (14) of the PCTs featuring in the top 20 are London boroughs.

The new figures show that, after a fall in 2008, increases were seen in all of the five most common STIs across London in 2009. Gonorrhoea (up 8% compared to 2008) and Genital Herpes (up 9%) both demonstrated a substantial yearly rise. Chlamydia diagnoses rose by14% but this was largely due to a 40% increase in diagnoses made through community based testing.

Syphilis diagnoses were up 24% compared to 2008, however the significance of this rise must be treated with caution as the rate had declined by an equal amount between 2007 and 2008.

Dr Helen Maguire, an expert in STI trends from the Health Protection Agency in London, said:
"These latest figures reveal STIs to be a major and ongoing health issue in London. STI rates do tend to be higher in regions with large and deprived urban centres. These figures clearly show that people are more likely to be diagnosed with STIs if they live in an inner city area of London as a higher proportion of people who are most at risk tend to live in these areas.

"Part of these increases could be due to more frequent and more sensitive testing, as well as better reporting, however there is a consistently high number of infections being diagnosed, which indicates that Londoners are still taking part in unsafe sexual activity.

"As in previous years, teenagers and young people account for a large number of these new infections, and this is likely to be due to a lack of skills and confidence to stop risky sexual behaviour and negotiate safer sex. Improved education and information for this group on sexual health and enhanced access to local sexual health services, including screening, is vital especially in deprived inner city areas.

"If we are to reduce this trend of poor sexual health in London then people must take responsibility for their own sexual well-being and ensure they use a condom with all new and casual partners."

For a detailed look at the figures visit the Health Protection Agency website Health Protection Agency .