Some 10% of young European males have chlamydia making them a major threat to both their own fertility and that of women. Project manager David Wilkins reports on an innovative project looking at men and chlamydia being run by the Men's Health Forum in England and Wales.
Over the past two years, the Men’s Health Forum’s Men and Chlamydia Project has been trying to find ways of encouraging young men to take the risk of chlamydia infection more seriously. The project has had two phases. Phase 1 involved detailed attitudinal research with the target age group (18 – 25 year-old men). Phase 2 was a pilot project in Telford, Shropshire, which lasted for four months and offered free urine testing for chlamydia infection in workplaces and colleges. A "streamlined" treatment process was also offered - depending on individual choices made, it was possible to access treatment at a local pharmacy without the need either to visit a GP or a GUM clinic, or the need for a prescription. This latter was achieved by the use of a Patient Group Directive.
The project has been funded largely by the Department of Health with additional monies from the National Pharmaceutical Association and Roche Diagnostics. It will be reported in a variety of ways. In March of next year, we will publish a report which will cover all aspects of the project. The report will include a detailed analysis of the qualitative research which will be of interest to any agency hoping to engage with young men about any aspect of their sexual health, not just about chlamydia. The report will also describe the implementation of the project and contain statistical information about the outcomes.
To coincide with the publication of the report, the MHF is holding a "dissemination seminar" on March 31st 2005 at the King’s Fund in central London. The seminar is aimed at grassroots sexual health practitioners who may be interested in implementing a similar project in their own area (or in incorporating some of the learning from the project into their own work more generally).
The seminar will:
- Report on the findings of the attitudinal research.
- Describe the practicalities of implementing the local programme in Telford.
- Reflect realistically on the positive and negative learning from the project.
- Consider how to engage men in the National Chlamydia Screening Programme.
- Allow ample opportunity to discuss the issues raised
In addition to those involved in implementing the Men and Chlamydia Project (representatives from the MHF, Telford & Wrekin PCT, the National Pharmaceutical Association and Roche Diagnostics), speakers will also include: Dr Ian Banks, President of the Men's Health Forum; Anne Weyman OBE, Chief Executive of the fpa; Professor Kate Galvin who is leading the further research arising from the Project; and a representative from the Department of Health National Chlamydia Screening Programme.
Participation in the seminar costs £70.00 (or £50.00 for MHF members) including lunch and a copy of the project report. 100 places are available. The seminar lasts from 11:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and is so timed to make travelling as straightforward as possible for people from outside London. If you may be interested in attending, please e-mail Mandy Chatterton at m.chatterton@ntlworld.com or click here for more information.
