Venereal disease control among homosexuals; An outreach program

M. G. Ritchey and A. M. Leff

With the support and participation of area homosexual organizations and a local bar, the City Health Department developed an outreach/education/screening program for venereal disease (VD) control. Venereal disease education and blood testing were conducted during four sequential Wednesday evenings in the bar on a volunteer basis, anonymously if requested. Of the 118 sera drawn, ten were reactive on serologic testing. Two of these reactive blood tests led to the discovery of two new cases of primary syphiles. No cultures were positive for Neisseria gonorrhoeae. The subject response rate confirms the value of an anonymous reporting method; the discovery of two cases of primary syphilis lends credence to case finding by field-screening a high-risk population.