Planned Parenthood debuts chart of gonnerhea

[Midwest88]

http://plannedparenthood.tumblr.com/...nt-such-a-good



True and honest or skewed? Why on earth are the South and the Midwest the highest?

[Dale_M]

Here is the CDC's map of three different STDs, which has a somewhat different pattern from the map you displayed.

http://www.cdc.gov/std/health-disparities/location.htm

Why are STDs so prevalent in the South? According to the CDC the reasons aren't well known, but the pattern has persisted through the decades.

The southern region of the U.S. (Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia) has higher rates of primary and secondary (P&S) syphilis and gonorrhea than other regions of the country. The reasons for regional differences in rates are not well understood, but may include differences in racial and ethnic distribution of the population, poverty, and availability and quality of health care services. These racial and ethnic differentials in STD rates are particularly disturbing in light of the fact that STDs facilitate HIV transmission at least two to five fold. High HIV prevalence among childbearing women living in the South may be due, in part, to the high rates of these other STDs. Data from a randomized controlled trial of STD treatment to prevent HIV infection suggest that as much as a 40% reduction in HIV incidence might be achieved in areas with high STD rates1.

Observations

• The South has consistently had higher rates of both gonorrhea and P&S syphilis
compared with other regions throughout the 1980s and 1990s (Figures 12, 13, 27
and 29, Tables 14 and 25). During 1996-1998, the South also had the highest
rate of chlamydia (Table 5) compared to the other regions.

http://www.cdc.gov/std/stats98/98pdf/Section11.pdf

[Midwest88]

Thanks for that chart. The chart you linked seems to give a more accurate picture other than coloring an entire state white, light red to dark red. I'm no epidemiologist or anthropologist, but could weather be a factor?

[Aelred Minor]

Notice that there are some politically and socially "red" states, like Montana, Idaho, and Utah, with much lower rates than New York or California. You could blaim relatively small, isolated populations, but by that logic Alaska should have the lowest rates, and instead it's extremely high.

My guess is there are a lot of factors involved, including poverty and genetics. Could barrier contraception have any affect one way or another (perhaps in different directions for different kinds of people)? Sure. Nothing would justify its use, however.

[Julia Mae]

The government chart has most recent info from 2009. The PPofA chart is from a magazine, and neither place gives provenance for the information.

If we consider population clusters, it might make sense that Alaska is high along with Mississippi and DC is outta sight. Alaska is mostly wilderness with a some densely populated pockets, and long dark winters, so, that might account for the rate.

[Julia Mae]

Originally Posted by Aelred Minor

My guess is there are a lot of factors involved, including poverty and genetics. Could barrier contraception have any affect one way or another (perhaps in different directions for different kinds of people)? Sure. Nothing would justify its use, however.

Maybe you should ask at the Planned Parenthood site, they have an "ask" box right over the map.

[Seira]

Originally Posted by Aelred Minor

My guess is there are a lot of factors involved, including poverty and genetics. Could barrier contraception have any affect one way or another (perhaps in different directions for different kinds of people)? Sure. Nothing would justify its use, however.

Yeah, birth control is not the only reason to use contraception. Though I'm willing to bet there's less contraception use in the South than the North (not that the North is great either). But yeah, Gonnerhea is making a big comeback w/ that new resistant strain.