Sexually Transmissible Infections

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2016:

170 hours

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Students will be expected to be proficient with a Web browser, e-mail application and word processing application prior to enrolment in this subject.

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For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.
The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website.

This subject will address the basic epidemiology, diagnosis and management of the common sexually transmissible infections (STIs). It will address the basic principles of STI control and discuss the major influences and factors affecting this control in different settings. The subject will demonstrate and explore the most important public health and clinical consequences of STIs.

At the end of this subject, students are expected to be able to:

• Demonstrate their knowledge of the epidemiology, diagnosis and management of sexually transmissible infections
• Demonstrate their knowledge of the public health implications of STIs
• Critically appraise the factors that impact on the epidemiology of STIs in different settings
• Reflect upon and analyse the barriers to effective control of STIs
• Reflect upon and analyse the role of sexual networks, clinical services, partner notification, and sex workers in determining the prevalence of an STI
• Reflect upon and interpret from the literature the interaction between HIV and STI in the spread of HIV

• Four short-answer questions of 500 words each (2000 words total) due by mid semester though encouraged to hand in earlier for academic feedback (this will be given back within 1 week of submission) (40%)
• Designing a public health intervention to improve STI control in a community setting of students choice : 2000 words due 1 week before end of semester (40%)
• Critique of another students intervention (as submitted above) ie peer review/critique 1000 words due 1 week after end of semester (20%)

Russell, D., Bradford, D. and Fairley, C., (Eds.) Sexual Health Medicine: A Clinical Approach, IP Communications, 2005

Special Computer Requirements: Students are required to have access to a computer with e-mail application, Web browser and CD ROM facility. Technical support is not available from the University of Melbourne in setting up such a system.

Resources Provided to Distance Students: Written material and CD-Rom/DVD will be provided by mail.

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This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

At the end of this subject, students are expected to be able to have developed

• critical thinking and analytical skills
• an ability to find, evaluate and use relevant information
• written communication skills
• problem-solving skills