Remote Primary Health Care Manuals

STI checks for young people

Sexually-active young people are at high risk of STIs and are generally under tested

  • Young person often presents with incomplete history. Sexual activity, consensual relationships, age of partner/s may not be revealed until later consults or as you build a relationship
  • Actively screen sexually active young people for STIs even if in a consensual relationship with 1 partner
  • If under 18 years — you must be aware of child protection reporting requirements in your state or territory before testing — see Child neglect, abuse and cumulative harm

If you suspect sexual abuse or reportable sexual activity, as defined by your state/territory legislation — you must notify child protection

  • Medical consult
    • Doctor will advise about STI testing and may talk with child protection service or sexual assault referral centre

Before testing

  • If under 14 years — medical consult
  • If under 16 years — you must obtain consent from parent/carer or assess whether to treat as competent minor
  • If not able to obtain consent or unresolved child protection issues — medical consult
  • Explain the importance of doing STI test
    • Most STIs are easily treatable
    • Health consequences of STIs
  • Explain you need to report to child protection service if
    • Under certain age — defined by state/territory legislation
    • Positive results depending on age — defined by state/territory legislation
    • Safety concerns

Do

  • If 14 years or over and issues of consent and child protection have been addressed — offer  STI check men, women
    • After doing STI check tell young person to come back for results
  • Report any identified issues to child protection service — Do not wait for STI results before you report

Discuss

  • Treatment needed if positive result 
  • Safer sex and contraception
    • Are the responsibility of both partners
    • Offer condoms
  • Consent and healthy intimate relationships
    • Your body is your own
    • Sexual activity occurs with someone not to someone
    • Consent must be freely given, informed and mutual
    • Consent between partners must be given each time and a person can always change their mind during sex
  • Protective behaviours if you suspect harm or power imbalance — see School-aged and young person’s health check
    • Help person to identify safe people in their life

Follow-up

  • Medical consult 
    • Contraception
    • Treatment
    • Contact tracing — may find other young people at risk of STIs and/or child protection issues
  • If under 14 years and positive STI result — repeat notification to child protection service
  • If 14 years or over and positive STI result — may need to report depending on state/territory requirements — if not sure talk with more experienced staff member, doctor or child protection service