A health authority compared gonorrhoea data from two districts over two consecutive six-month periods. The same antibiotic was prescribed to people diagnosed with gonorrhoea in both districts.
At the start of period 2, extra testing clinics opened in district P. There was no change to the testing service in district Q. Each positive test was recorded as a new reported infection.
| District | Period | People tested | Positive test results | Diagnosed infections cured by the antibiotic (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 1 | 1500 | 120 | 95 |
| P | 2 | 3000 | 180 | 94 |
| Q | 1 | 1500 | 120 | 95 |
| Q | 2 | 1800 | 216 | 68 |
Use the data to suggest why the increase in reported infections in district P is more likely to have resulted from increased detection than from increased transmission.
Suggest one biological reason why the percentage of diagnosed infections cured in district Q decreased.
The health authority can fund either extra testing clinics or a free condom programme in district Q.
Explain which measure the authority should prioritise to reduce the number of new infections during the next six months. Use the data and your knowledge of gonorrhoea.
252 exam-style questions on AQA GCSE Biology 3.1 Communicable diseases, covering 3.1.1 Communicable (infectious) diseases, 3.1.2 Viral diseases, 3.1.3 Bacterial diseases, 3.1.4 Fungal diseases, 3.1.5 Protist diseases, 3.1.6 Human defence systems, 3.1.7 Vaccination, 3.1.8 Antibiotics and painkillers, and 3.1.9 Discovery and development of drugs. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.