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Sign in or register for an accountSexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a significant public health issue, often carrying stigma and posing risks to the health and well-being of those affected. In addition to their personal impact, they place a considerable burden on healthcare services. When left undiagnosed or untreated, common STIs can lead to severe complications and adverse health outcomes including infertility, adverse pregnancy outcomes, neonatal infections, systemic infections, and permanent damage to cardiovascular and neurological systems.
STIs are primarily spread through sexual contact, including vaginal, anal, and oral sex. However, some STIs can also be transmitted through close physical contact like touching, exposure to infected bodily fluids or from mother to child during birth.
Following a decrease in testing and diagnoses during the COVID-19 lockdowns, cases of common STIs rose to and exceeded pre-pandemic levels quickly, including chlamydia, gonorrhoea, and syphilis, signalling both increased transmission and the ongoing challenge of managing these infections. Estimates suggest that STIs represent a considerable financial burden due to treatment, complications, and public health interventions, with increases in testing, cases, new strains and medical inflation adding to costs.
Salford’s statistics follow broader national patterns, with higher STI rates observed in urban areas. National sources note pressures on sexual health services across the UK due to funding constraints and workforce limitations, with increases in demand and longer wait times for appointments also impacting Salford’s services. Additionally, trends in increased testing availability, particularly online, have contributed to higher diagnostic rates, revealing a clearer picture of STI prevalence that requires proactive health interventions. As such, higher diagnosis rates should not be viewed solely as a negative, and must be considered in the context of testing regimes and demographics.
Data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) show that STIs in Salford are on the rise. The chart below shows the trend in diagnoses for all new STIs, excluding chlamydia diagnoses in those aged under 24 years old. This shows a fall between 2012 and 2015, followed by a continued increase to 2019. Diagnoses fell rapidly in 2020 but thereafter rose again before stabilising since 2022.
Across England, STI cases increased by 4.7% from 2022 to 2023, with syphilis and gonorrhoea diagnoses up by 9.4% and 7.5%, respectively. In Salford, STI rates are notably higher than national averages, presenting a significant local public health challenge, especially among key demographics such as young adults (ages 15-24), gay, bisexual or men who have sex with men (GBMSM), and residents in economically deprived areas.
The diagnosis of STIs in Salford shows a worsening picture with rates increasing consistently across all diseases except for genital herpes. Syphilis rates in Salford exceed twice the national average, with the highest rates in the North West, gonorrhoea rates are also disproportionately high and worsening.
Chlamydia rates have shown a steady rise among individuals over 25, while prevalence remains consistently elevated among those under 25. These patterns reflect a growing need for targeted interventions and continuous monitoring to address the unique sexual health challenges faced by Salford’s population.
STI diagnoses in Salford have followed a similar trend to that seen nationally, however rates are consistently higher locally.
[Download the new STI diagnoses data chart (csv format, 2kb)]
A more detailed set of indicators from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) Fingertips dashboard compares local STI data with national averages, highlighting Salford's elevated STI burden.
Salford is considered a high HIV prevalence local authority based on national thresholds used to benchmark HIV diagnosed prevalence rates. These thresholds group areas into three categories: below two cases per 1,000 residents aged 15-59 is classed as low, between two and five per 1,000 is high, and above five per 1,000, extremely high. Salford’s HIV diagnosed prevalence rate per 1,000 people aged 15 to 59 years was 4.92 in 2024.
Nationally, the burden of STIs is not experienced equally across the population, as is seen in Salford. STIs affect societal groups unequally, with some experiencing more severe health impacts (health inequalities) and others facing significant barriers to accessing healthcare services (health inequities).
Rates of new STI diagnosis consistently remain highest within certain population groups. These include young people who are less likely to have higher rates of partner change; GBMSM, people living in deprived areas and people of Black ethnicity. In addition, sex workers face heightened vulnerability to STIs due to the nature of their work.
NICE Guidance (2022) includes a range of interventions for reducing STIs in the adult population. The UKHSA’s STI Prioritisation Framework (2024) supports targeted intervention of STIs focusing on those who are most at risk, focusing on reducing adverse health outcomes and inequalities, an approach that is both effective and cost-efficient.
To address the sexual health needs of Salford’s community and enhance sexual health services in Salford, several interventions and strategies are in place. These focus on prevention, education, accessibility, and treatment. Efforts are supported by Salford's Integrated Sexual Health Service (ISHS) and partner organisations, adopting a holistic, inclusive approach to sexual health.
Salford has implemented targeted outreach and education initiatives to address rising rates of STIs across the city. Recognising the importance of proactive community engagement, local health services and educational programmes are working collaboratively to raise awareness, promote preventative practices, and improve access to testing and treatment. Through a combination of workshops, public health campaigns, and educational resources tailored to diverse demographic groups, Salford aims to equip residents with the knowledge and tools needed to reduce STI transmission. These efforts highlight a commitment to fostering a healthier community through informed, accessible, and preventative sexual health measures.
In the UK, mandatory Relationship and Sex Education (RSE) delivered in primary and secondary education settings plays a crucial role in equipping young people with knowledge about STIs as part of a comprehensive approach to sexual health education, including a strong emphasis on STI prevention, sexual health, and healthy relationships. Updated RSE statutory guidance (published in 2025) will be implemented in September 2026 with new topics such as AI literacy, deepfake awareness, and safeguarding issues like misogyny, incel culture, and financial exploitation. The statutory guidance is structured to ensure that students understand the practical aspects of STI prevention, such as safe sex practices, the role of contraception, and where to access health services. Salford’s public health team plan to work closely with RSE facilitators to ensure this approach is effective and beneficial to Salford’s young people.
Salford’s ISHS prioritises young people among other groups who are most at risk of ill sexual health. ISHS Outreach efforts in Salford consist of direct support to vulnerable residents such as those experiencing homelessness, mental health challenges, or substance misuse, ensuring they can access essential sexual health services. This integrated, multi-agency approach strengthens outreach efforts by fostering a supportive environment where all residents, regardless of their circumstances, are empowered to make informed decisions about their sexual health.
Salford City Council commissions the PaSH Partnership (Passionate about Sexual Health) is a Greater Manchester collaboration between BHA for Equality, George House Trust, and the LGBT Foundation. It focuses on HIV and STI prevention, testing, and support for individuals newly diagnosed or at risk. As part of its offer, PaSH provides targeted HIV and STI testing for groups most at risk, helping to increase access to sexual health testing for underserved groups and reduce inequalities in health outcomes.
Salford City Council works in close partnership with Manchester Action for Street Health (MASH), a specialist charity that supports women who are vulnerable to or involved in sex work. MASH provides a holistic range of services, with a strong emphasis on sexual health management, harm reduction, and facilitating access to healthcare. Through outreach, advocacy, and trauma-informed care, MASH helps clients navigate barriers to services and empowers them to make informed choices about their health and wellbeing.
Prevention and education strategies aim to equip people with an understanding of risk and safe sexual practices and reduce those risks through vaccination and targeting, including partner notification. Interventions that reduce risk including increasing access to condoms and promoting their use, and providing access to medical interventions such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis (doxyPEP).
Enabling timely access to testing and treatment is central to the approach. Free STI testing kits, including for HIV are available in the city. Prompt access to effective STI treatment is critical to managing infection rates and reducing transmission. While many STIs are curable, those that are not can often be managed to minimise symptoms and complications.
Timely testing for STIs can lead to early diagnosis, treatment, and improved personal wellbeing, mental health, and relationships, and as such is an essential part of STI prevention strategies. Salford’s approach to STI testing aligns with national efforts to manage rising infection rates and is central to its public health strategy. Testing services are available across Salford from both healthcare and community-based settings with access either face-to-face or via online access. These tests cover key infections such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis, and HIV.
These strategies reflect Salford’s commitment to a proactive, evidence-driven approach to sexual health, ensuring accessible, equitable care for all residents.