St. Louis, metro-east region among areas with highest STD rates in US, study says
The greater St. Louis metro area has one of the worst rates of sexually transmitted diseases in the U.S., according to a recent report from health care research organization Innerbody.
Innerbody found St. Louis’ STD transmission rate is the eighth highest in the U.S., and reported the metro area has higher-than-average case counts for HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis. The report used U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data.
The St. Louis metro area studied in the report included metro-east Illinois counties, Innerbody spokesperson Eric Rodriguez told the News-Democrat in an email.
The metro area has an overall sexually transmitted infection rate of 1,314 cases per 100,000 people, according to the report, with 280 cases of HIV, 16,482 chlamydia cases, 7,857 gonorrhea cases and 550 syphilis cases per 100,000.
Here’s how the top 10 U.S. cities/metro areas with the highest STD rates compared, according to Innerbody:
Detroit, Mich., with a STI rate of 1,491 cases per 100,000 people
Philadelphia, Penn., 1,459 cases per 100,000 people
Montgomery, Ala., 1,446 cases per 100,000 people
Memphis, Tenn., 1,430 cases per 100,000 people
Baltimore, Md., 1,370 cases per 100,000 people
New Orleans, La., 1,357 cases per 100,000 people
Washington, D.C., 1,334 cases per 100,000 people
St. Louis, Mo., 1,314 cases per 100,000 people
Baton Rouge, La., 1,296 cases per 100,000 people
San Francisco, Calif., 1,296 cases per 100,000 people
STD transmission in the St. Louis region
Chlamydia and gonorrhea are two of the most commonly transmitted STIs, and often present as asymptomatic cases, especially in women, Jennifer Caumiant, a professor with Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s public health program, said in an April 9 interview with the BND.
“Having access to STI testing is important. Having access to education is important,” Caumiant said.
In Illinois, it’s optional for school districts to provide sexual education, according to the state board of education. Illinois school districts that opt to offer sexual education must follow the National Sex Education Standards, and parents can opt their children out of any sexual education.
Similarly, Missouri schools are not required by state law to provide sexual education, though a school board may elect to do so. Missouri state law dictates any sexual education in schools must “present abstinence from sexual activity as the preferred choice of behavior” for all unmarried students.
“We need to make sure that access to comprehensive and inclusive sexual health education is available across the board in all communities,” Caumiant said.
Those looking for STD testing in Illinois should ask their general practitioner if they have one, Caumiant said. For those who don’t have testing access through a primary care provider, it is often available through local public health departments and Planned Parenthood clinics.
The St. Clair County Health Department offers STD testing, as well as referrals for treatment for those who test positive, spokesperson Brenda Fedak confirmed via email. You can schedule a testing appointment by calling 618-825-4500.
To reduce your risk of contracting an STI, you should consider using a barrier method like a dental dam or condom, Caumiant said. Condoms are available at the St. Clair County Health Department.
Other resources to mitigate STDs include the HPV vaccine, pre-exposure prophylaxis or PrEP for people who are at risk of HIV and regular testing, according to the CDC.
Do you have a question about health in Illinois for our service journalism team? We’d like to hear from you. Fill out our Metro-east Matters form below.
