UW Center for AIDS and STD

A Landscape Analysis Report of Tacoma-Pierce County STI Clinical Services

The U.S. has experienced a significant increase in the number of reported sexually transmitted infections (STI) over the past decade. Untreated STIs can lead to further STI transmission, congenital infection, infertility, and the spread of HIV.

Pierce County, Washington is considered a high STI incidence jurisdiction, with high rates of STIs relative to both other Washington State and U.S. counties. Compared to Washington state overall, people living with HIV in Pierce Co were also less likely to be linked to HIV care and virally suppressed in 2018, potentially leading to greater onward transmission of HIV.

This report presents findings from a partnership between the Tacoma – Pierce County Health Department (TPCHD) and the University of Washington to identify opportunities to improve STI and PrEP clinical services in Pierce County. Gaps and existing strengths in services were identified through 14 local stakeholder interviews and ranked by subject matter experts (SMEs) in order of importance from highest priority to lowest priority.

Strengths in current STI and PrEP service provision in Pierce County included:

  1. TPCHD STI and HIV partner services are beneficial and considered important to STI control in Pierce County by providers
  2. Strong relationships between TPCHD and some partner facilities
  3. Accepting and open-minded culture at TPCHD and clinics that provide STI services.

Primary gaps identified (ranked in order of importance):

  1. Limited STI and PrEP service availability
  2. Limited STI and PrEP service awareness
  3. Lack of availability/accessibility of free care
  4. Underdeveloped provider support networks and relationships with TPCHD
  5. Limited geographic distribution of STI and PrEP services in Pierce Co, despite a widely distributed population
  6. Referring patients to other providers for STI treatment can result in delayed or incomplete treatment

Recommendations generated by SMEs (to address these gaps):

  1. Fund a brick and mortar STI clinic
  2. Fund an outreach campaign to increase STI service and PrEP awareness
  3. Fund a mobile STI clinic
  4. Create a provider support network or a regular education series for providers
  5. Strengthen referral relationships between TPCHD and providers that offer free medical care

 

You can read and download the full report here.