Sexually Transmitted Diseases

The AMA Minority Affairs Consortium is providing the following data and resources that can help you educate your staff and patients about sexually transmitted diseases.

• In the United States, more than 65 million people are currently living with an incurable sexually transmitted disease (STD). An additional 15 million people become infected with one or more STDs each year, roughly half of whom contract lifelong infections ¹.
• Overall, African Americans have higher rates of STDs than whites for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes, and hepatitis B.²
• In 2001, the syphilis rate among American Indians/Alaska Natives was 6 times higher than the syphilis rate among the non-Hispanic white population, the chlamydia rate was 5.5 times higher, the gonorrhea rate was 4 times higher and the AIDS rate was 1.5 times higher³.
• According to the 2000 United States census, Hispanics/Latinos of all ethnic groups represent 13.3 percent of the United States population or 38.8 million individuals. In 1999 the age-adjusted death rate for HIV was 32.7 per 100,000 for Puerto Ricans living on the mainland U.S., higher than any other racial or ethnic group, more than six times the national average (5.4 per 100,000) and more than 13 times the rate for non-Hispanic whites (2.4 per 100,000)³.
• Minorities also are disproportionately affected by most major STDs, even after adjusting for reporting biases. African-Americans have the highest rates of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis of all racial or ethnic groups.⁴
  • Do not assume your patients know about STDs.
  • Do not be afraid or embarrassed to ask your patients about STDs. They will thank you because often they are too embarrassed to ask and wish their health care provider did.

Remember:

AMA Resources and Information:

HIV and AIDS

AMA PolicyFinder (Search AMA PolicyFinder for  AMA policy related to sexually transmitted diseases)

Sources: (Note: Links in the sources section may take you off of the AMA Web site)

¹Cates W et al. Estimates of the Incidence and Prevalence of Sexually Transmitted Diseases in the Cates W et al. Estimates of the Incidence and Prevalence of Sexually Transmitted Diseases in the UnitedStates. Sex Trans Dis 1999;26(suppl):S2-S7.

²Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site: Health Problems in African American Women: Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs). Accessed at http://www.4woman.gov/minority/minority.cfm?page=307.

³Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Fact Sheet on Racial and Ethnic Disparities. Accessed at  http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/pressrel/fs040402.htm

⁴Division of STD Prevention. Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance, 1998.  Atlanta, GA:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;September 1999. 

Diana Ramos, MD, at-large representative on the MAC Governing Council provided much of the information presented here. These materials  and resources are provided for informational purposes only and do not indicate endorsement by the AMA. Contact your physician if you have a medical or health concern.