Innerbody Research released its seventh annual study of STD rates, revealing Washington, D.C., ranked 10th out of the top 10 cities with the highest sexually transmitted disease (STD) rates in the country.
With a slew of factors influencing sexual health behaviors, prominent health and research organizations are working to address the growing infection rates across the District.
Based on the most recent 2022 STI Surveillance Report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Innerbody Research developed a list of the top 100 cities to promote awareness of STDs and in effort to prevent poor health outcomes by way of negligent practices.
“The number one thing that an individual can do to help address this issue is to get tested more frequently,” said Eric Rodriguez, CEO and co-founder of Innerbody Research. “What we’ve found is that people don’t realize how important it is to get tested regularly, because many STDs are manageable if they are caught early. Many of them are curable. But you can’t manage and you can’t cure what you don’t know.”
While Innerbody Research presented figures based on their national count, figures published by the CDC and DC Health shows D.C. counts 271 cases of primary and secondary syphilis in 2022, with a rate of 40.3 per 100,000 population; 8,141 cases of chlamydia, equating to a rate of 1,211.8 per 100,000; 4,925 cases of gonorrhea within a rate of 733.1 per 100,000; and 210 new cases of HIV reported within DC Health’s Annual Epidemiology & Surveillance Report (the CDC’s report does not cover HIV cases across the District). It is important to note that there is roughly an 18-month lag between when the CDC can collect the data and publish the numbers.
Statistics reflect the social and racial disparities found within the research, as minority ethnic and racial groups are reportedly most burdened with growing infection rates compared to their white counterparts. Non-Hispanic Black people account for roughly 12% of the U.S. population but represent 31% of gonorrhea, chlamydia, and primary and secondary syphilis cases, also affecting the health of newborn children.
“While newborn syphilis cases are increasing nationwide and across every racial and ethnic group, some communities, including those of people who are Black, Hispanic, and American Indian or Alaskan Natives, are experiencing the brunt of the newborn syphilis epidemic,” said Dr. Laura Bachmann, the chief medical officer in the CDC’s Division of STD Prevention in Innerbody Research’s report.
Sexual Health and Trends in the District of Columbia
National health leaders are not the only ones witnessing growing trends in sexually transmitted infections among minority populations.
Mary’s Center is a community health center offering health care, education, and social services to over 65,000 residents across the D.C. area. Shenell Williams-Davis is a sexual health coordinator with the center’s Public Health Outreach Services. She witnesses a variation of resident lifestyles and behaviors that illustrate the nuances behind the increasing STD epidemic.
Mary’s Center services a variety of patients of various backgrounds seeking sexual education or medical attention for STD diagnosis.
“It’s very mixed. [Among our] African American community, they are often younger in age. Many are aware for the most part, but at times they [can also have] an entitled [mindset] assuming that [their health is automatically in good standing],” said Williams-Davis. “You also have to consider those folks who come from foreign countries and are just unaware of health care in general. We see a large number of those patients who are unfamiliar with the medical aspect of getting tested, getting vaccinated, [or] following up.”
Williams-Davis recounts a rough estimate of 60% of her patients being within the range of 21 years old and younger, with residents as young as 13 years old walking through their doors. While many solicit the health centers services of their own volition, many are directed from local school-based health centers across the city, designed to provide STD testing to students and dispense referrals to specialty care or community providers for further treatment if needed.
She attributes modern times and the current social culture to the increase of precarious behavior among the city’s younger demographic.
“The doors of [varied sexual preferences] have opened up, and a lot of people are starting to experience [a multitude of things]. It’s no longer just one-on-one [sexual relationships], but [people experiencing multiple partner relationships],” Williams-Davis explained. “So that brings the issue where I may treat three people, but where are the other two in the group, or I can treat three, but where are the other four people? This [creates a breeding ground] for reinfection.”
Surprisingly, even senior citizens are becoming increasingly susceptible to growing rates of STDs, as statistics show nationwide rates of sexually transmitted infections have more than doubled for seniors between 2007 and 2017 among adults aged 65 and older.
Older residents are seldom tested regularly, including those seniors residing in retirement homes, as the common misconception is that their demographic is not as sexually active as younger age groups. Men of senior age who find themselves experiencing STIs are often reported to contract trichomoniasis, a parasite infection. Women of senior age are also seeing increasing rates of syphilis, chlamydia, and trichomoniasis diagnosis.
In addition to fear of stigma, blatant negligence to STD testing, and an unwillingness to complete medical treatments for infections play a critical role in soaring STD and reinfection rates across the metropolitan area.
“Recently, I’ve gotten a few, “What if I don’t want to get treated?” which I’ve brought up to my team,” Williams-Davis told The Informer. “I’ve [also] seen a pushback on not completing treatment for chlamydia and also syphilis.”
Due to a shortage, patients were given doxycycline, typically coming in a 56 pill dosage, versus the Bicillin L-A injection, which can be treated in one shot, but varies based on the stage of syphilis infection. Numerous patients share distress in completing the required 56-pill prescription twice a day, over a 28 to 30-day period, ultimately causing patients to neglect the full treatment.
Health leaders hope to expand education and community resources to remedy the concerning health outcomes caused by poor sexual health practices and transmission.
“I [would suggest these pharmaceutical companies] change their commercials. They are very misleading. I think we need more on the ground to reach out to these communities and educate people. Especially for those who are refugees seeking help in the city of D.C., or Maryland and Virginia,” Williams-Davis said.
She also emphasized it is important health systems remove barriers to assist patients who want to receive care.
“We require so much, being insurance, this and that. How about just helping them out,” Williams-Davis encouraged. “Oftentimes they are just afraid of the bill, or they are afraid of their information being used against them if they are not permanent residents here in the states. There is just too much in the way of actually helping people.”
