Blacks still face highest prevalence of STD's

HIV prevalence varies greatly among races. HIV/AIDS prevalence amongst African-American women was 53 per 100,000 population which is over 18 times more than white women and five times more than Hispanic women. African-American women make up 69% of female HIV diagnoses in the US in 200-2003. 51% of HIV diagnoses in the same period was among Black people, 32% were among white people, 15% was among Latinos, 1% among Asians/Pacific Islanders and 1% among American Indians. Homosexuals accounted for 44% of all diagnosis during this period and 61% of diagnoses amongst men. 103.4 African American men per 100,000 population were diagnosed with HIV/AIDS in 2003 which is 7 times higher than white men and three times higher than Latino men. Although underdiagnosed, Chlamydia still remains the most frequently reported infectious disease in the US (877,478 cases in 2003 compared to 830,000 cases in 2002). Estimates including unreported cases put the figure at 3 million cases annually. Chlamydia is readily treated with antibiotics but untreated can cause conditions such as infertility. Reported rates of gonorrhea decreased by more than 4.8% from 2002 to 2003 (122 to 116.2 per 100,000 population). African Americans had the highest incidence for gonorrhea. Gonorrhea increases the risk of HIV infection and untreated can cause infertility in men and chronic pelvic pain and infertility in women. Over 60% of syphilis cases occurred in homosexual men. Again, syphilis is easily treatable but untreated can cause serious conditions and even death. Many STD's increase a person's susceptibility to HIV.

Source: summary of medical news story as reported by Windy City Times

Related Disease Topics:

• HIV
• AIDS
• Chlamydia
• Syphilis
• Gonorrhea
• Homosexuality
• Sexually transmitted disease

Related Symptom Topics:

• Infertility
• Chronic pelvic pain

Article Source Details

About: Blacks still face highest prevalence of STD's

Date: 8 December 2004

Source: Windy City Times

Author: Andrew Davis

URL: http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=6816

Related Medical Topics

This summary article refers to the following medical categories:

• Death from syphilis
• Risk and HIV
• Risk and HIV
• Risk and AIDS
• Risk and syphilis
• Risk and Chlamydia
• Risk and gonorrhea
• Statistics
• Risk and homosexuality
• Risk and sexually transmitted disease
• Risk and STD
• STD
• Cause of infertility
• Cause of chronic pelvic pain
• Underdiagnosed
• Underdiagnosed and Chlamydia

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