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All STD management approaches
should emphasize the four Cs:
- Counseling and education
- Condom promotion
- Compliance with treatment
- Contacting partners for treatment
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All STD management approaches should emphasize the four C’s:
counseling and education, condom promotion, compliance with
treatment, and contacting partners for treatment. Algorithms
used in syndromic management should always incorporate the four
C’s.
Counseling and education should cover STD prevention messages,
point out the potential serious complications of STDs, and suggest
ways to change risky sexual behaviors. Condom use should be
promoted to prevent infection, emphasizing the importance of
consistent and correct use.
Compliance with treatment is essential. The provider should
explain the importance of completing the treatment regimen,
even after all symptoms have disappeared. The client should
also abstain from sex until treatment is completed and the infection
is cured.
Sex partners of clients with a clear, definitive diagnosis
of infection should be notified of their exposure to disease
and encouraged to seek appropriate care. When the diagnosis
is not definite, such as with the vaginal discharge syndrome,
when to contact partners is less clear. Local providers should
use their judgment in these situations. Treating infected partners
benefits them, while also preventing further spread of the infection
and re-infection of the client.
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