Overview
This course examines the epidemiology, transmission dynamics, prevention, screening, treatment, and public health control of common bacterial, viral, and parasitic sexually transmitted infections. Students evaluate the STI prevention continuum, partner notification, contact tracing, vaccination, barrier promotion, sexual health education, biomedical prevention, behavioral interventions, harm reduction, treatment as prevention, and outbreak response.
Emphasis is placed on translating epidemiological evidence into intervention plans; identifying priority populations; engaging communities; coordinating multidisciplinary services; allocating resources; and communicating risk effectively. Students critically assess structural, cultural, ethical, and legal factors affecting access and uptake, including stigma, confidentiality, consent, gender, sexuality, age, disability, and health inequities. The course also addresses integration of STI services into primary care, reproductive health, maternal health, HIV, and community health programs.
Learning Outcomes
- Describe major bacterial, viral, and parasitic STI control strategies and their public health applications.
- Compare the strengths, limitations, and equity implications of screening, vaccination, partner management, behavioral, biomedical, and treatment-based interventions.
- Analyze epidemiological evidence to identify priority populations, transmission patterns, and intervention needs.
- Develop a culturally responsive STI intervention plan incorporating community engagement, multidisciplinary coordination, resource allocation, and risk communication.
- Evaluate implementation barriers related to stigma, confidentiality, consent, gender, sexuality, age, disability, culture, and health inequities.
- Apply ethical and legal principles to screening, notification, surveillance, outbreak response, and STI service delivery.
- Design monitoring indicators and evaluation approaches for assessing intervention reach, effectiveness, safety, and equity.
- Justify public health decisions using relevant epidemiological evidence and implementation research.
Timetable
| Type | Length | Frequency | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 2 hours | Weekly | All semester |
| Tutorial | 2 hours | Weekly | All semester |
| Workshop | 2 hours | Fortnightly | All semester |
Assessment Schedule
| Type | Description | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Quiz | STI epidemiology and prevention concepts | 10.00% |
| Assignment | Critical analysis of an STI control intervention | 20.00% |
| Deliverable | Culturally responsive intervention plan | 25.00% |
| Test | Applied monitoring and evaluation test | 15.00% |
| Exam | Final examination | 30.00% |
Prerequisites
Teaching Staff & Programs
This course is delivered jointly by faculty from the participating programs listed below. In line with the Douchewater Way, the University of Sexology tailors core instruction directly to each cohort's specific discipline — adapting curriculum to program needs rather than forcing students into a one-size-fits-all model. Learn more about our approach at The Douchewater Way.
