Racial/ethnic and sexual behavior disparities in rates of sexually transmitted infections, San Francisco, 1999-2008

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Racial/ethnic minorities and men who have sex with men (MSM) represent populations with disparate sexually transmitted infection (STI) rates. While race-specific STI rates have been widely reported, STI rates among MSM is often challenging given the absence of MSM population estimates. We evaluated the race-specific rates of chlamydia and gonorrhea among MSM and non-MSM in San Francisco between 1999-2008.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>2000 US Census data for San Francisco was used to estimate the number of African-American, Asian/Pacific Islander, Hispanic, and white males. Data from National HIV Behavioral Surveillance (NHBS) MSM 1, conducted in 2004, was used to estimate the total number of MSM in San Francisco and the size of race/ethnic sub-populations of MSM. Non-MSM estimates were calculated by subtracting the number of estimated MSM from the total number of males residing in San Francisco. Rates of MSM and non-MSM gonorrhea and chlamydia reported between 1999 and 2008 were stratified by race/ethnicity. Ratios of MSM and non-MSM rates of morbidity were calculated by race/ethnicity.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Between 1999-2008, MSM accounted for 72% of gonorrhea cases and 51% of chlamydia cases. Throughout the study period, African-American MSM had the highest chlamydia rate with 606 cases per 100,000 in 1999 increasing to 2067 cases per 100,000 in 2008. Asian/Pacific Islander MSM consistently had the lowest rate among MSM with1003 cases per 100,000 in 2008. The ratio of MSM/non-MSM for chlamydia was highest among whites 11.6 (95% CI: 8.8-14.4) and Asian/Pacific Islanders 8.6 (95% CI: 6.2-11), and lowest among African-Americans 1.53 (95% CI: 1.2-1.9) and Hispanics 4.43 (95% CI: 2.8-6.0). Gonorrhea rates were similar for African-American, white, and Hispanic MSM between 2137-2441 cases per 100,000 in 2008. Asian/Pacific Islander MSM had the lowest gonorrhea rate with 865 cases per 100,000 in 2008. The ratio of MSM/non-MSM for gonorrhea was highest among whites 11.6 (95% CI: 8.8-14.4) and Asian/Pacific Islanders 8.6 (95% CI: 6.2-11), and lowest among African-Americans 1.53 (95% CI: 1.2-1.9) and Hispanics 4.43 (95% CI: 2.8-6.0).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>For all racial/ethnic groups in San Francisco, MSM carried a substantially higher burden of STIs compared to non-MSM except among African-American men. These racial and sexual behavior disparities warrant further public health attention and resources.</p

South Carolina Ryan White Program : Service Standards

The South Carolina Department of Public Health (SC DPH) administers the Ryan White Part B grant in South Carolina. The grant is managed by the STD, HIV, and Viral Hepatitis Unit within the Bureau of Communicable Disease Prevention & Control. The SC Ryan White Program Service Standards incorporate the RWHAP National Monitoring Standards (NMS), the RWHAP Part B Manual, and the RWHAP Policy Notices to provide South Carolina-specific service definitions, guidance, allowable and unallowable costs, subrecipient responsibilities, and other service-related information to ensure that all SC Ryan White-funded subrecipients offer the same fundamental components of a given service category across the state and to establish the minimal level of service or care that a SC Ryan White-funded subrecipient may offer

South Carolina Epidemiologic Profile of HIV, AIDS, and Sexually Transmitted Infections 2023

The 2023 South Carolina Epidemiological Profile highlights the current data and trends in the HIV and STIs in the state showing the sociodemographic characteristics of the population, the impact of HIV/AIDS and STIs on different population groups, risk behaviors, and the HIV/AIDS Continuum of Care. The information provided is intended to assist decision-makers and stakeholders throughout the state to plan and develop a comprehensive, statewide HIV Prevention and Care Plan, and for the allocation of resources. The goal of the plan is to provide a responsive, effective, and efficient continuum of services for people living with HIV (PWH) and those at risk for HIV acquisition, as well as to support the prevention and control of STIs

The pattern of notification and testing for genital Chlamydia trachomatis infection in Victoria, 1998–2000: an ecological analysis

Abstract Objective:This ecological study analyses routinely collected chlamydia notification and testing data to investigate any patterns. Methods:Age and sex‐specific chlamydia notification and testing rates for Victoria were calculated for the period 1998 to 2000. Results:Chlamydia notification and testing rates rose between 1998 and 2000. Notification rates were higher among women aged 15 to 24 years than men of the same age (p<0.01) and higher among 25 to 44‐year‐olds living in metropolitan rather than rural/regional Victoria (p<0.01). Testing rates were higher for women than men (p<0.01) and higher in metropolitan rather than rural/regional areas (p<0.01) in all groups except women aged 15–24 years. Conclusions:These increasing rates highlight that chlamydia infection represents a substantial public health problem. Implications:Although these data provide useful information showing these rates vary with age and sex, formal epidemiological prevalence and risk factor studies are required

Use of Sentinel Surveillance and Geographic Information Systems to Monitor Trends in HIV Prevalence, Incidence, and Related Risk Behavior among Women Undergoing Syphilis Screening in a Jail Setting

Innovative methods are needed to systematically track the HIV epidemic and appropriately target prevention and care programs in vulnerable populations of women. We conducted sentinel surveillance among women entering the jail system of San Francisco from 1999 to 2001 to track trends in HIV incidence, HIV prevalence, and related risk behavior. Using geographic information software (GIS), we triangulated findings to examine the spatial distribution of risk and disease. A total of 1,577 female arrestees voluntarily screened for sexually transmitted diseases at intake were included. HIV incidence, estimated using the serologic testing algorithm for recent HIV seroconversion (STARHS), was 0.4% per year (95% confidence interval [95%CI] = 0.1–2.1). HIV prevalence was 1.8% (95%CI = 1.1–2.4). HIV infection was independently associated with age 30 to 39 years compared to all other ages, African-American race/ethnicity vs. non-African-American, and recent injection drug use. Maps showed that the communities in which arrested women reside are also those with the highest concentrations of newly detected female HIV cases, AIDS cases, and clients of substance use programs. The combined strategy of using sentinel surveillance in the jail setting and GIS to map the spatial distribution of disease provides a useful tool to identify patterns of risk in hard-to-reach, vulnerable populations of women