Each year, approximately 19 million new sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) occur in the United States, with many going undiagnosed since the majority of infections don't show signs or symptoms. That impact hits home for Alaskans, who continually have endemic rates for STDs.
Alaska's chlamydia rate has been twice the U.S. rate since 2002. In 2009, Alaska had the second highest rate per 100,000 of chlamydia and the ninth highest rate per 100,000 of gonorrhea. Alaska Native women have rates of chlamydia almost 10 times higher than the overall U.S. population (3,050 per 100,000 people vs. 370 per 100,000 people).
April is National STD Awareness Month and the perfect opportunity to remind Alaskans about STD awareness, testing and the Get Yourself Tested (GYT) campaign. GYT promotes public awareness and makes STD and HIV testing a routine component of personal health, thereby fostering sexual responsibility and addressing Alaska's alarming rates of chlamydia and gonorrhea outbreaks.
The Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium's STD program is linking its "I Know Mine" campaign with the GYT campaign, providing GYT toolkits and educational materials to village and public health clinics around Alaska. As a result, clinics all over Alaska will bring STD awareness and testing to their communities. Visit www.iknowmine.org for more information.
Why is STD testing and awareness so important? STDs have long-term effects: Chlamydia and gonorrhea are linked with pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy, infertility and increased susceptibility of acquiring HIV. The lack of information, misconceptions and social stigma keep many people from talking openly about sexual health and from getting tested for STDs and HIV. Testing for chlamydia and gonorrhea, two of the most common STDs, is easier than ever with a simple urine test.
That awareness is critical in all corners of Alaska and particularly for young adults. In 2009, Alaska's gonorrhea rate rose 69 percent, with the majority of gonorrhea cases occurring among Alaska Natives (670 cases or 67 percent of the increase in cases). The highest rate was reported for Alaska Native women: 656 cases per 100,000 females, an increase of 89 percent over 2008. At the same times, individuals ages 15-29 comprised 82 percent of all chlamydia cases and 62 percent of all gonorrhea cases.
Preliminary 2010 STD data shows that Alaska continues to have a high incidence of chlamydia and an ongoing outbreak of gonorrhea: case counts for both STDs were again higher in 2010 than in 2009. The number of gonorrhea cases rose from 1,006 in 2009 to 1,274 in 2010 of which 940 (74 percent) were among Alaska Native people. The number of chlamydia cases increased from 5,249 in 2009 to 6,022 in 2010, of which 2,868 (48 percent) were among Alaska Native people.
Get Yourself Tested (GYT) is a nationwide effort to reduce the spread of STDs among young people by encouraging them to make responsible decisions about their sexual health and promote STD testing.
GYT represents young people's familiarity with communicating in shorthand. GYT messages emphasize the importance of having open conversations between partners and with health care providers and parents about sexual health issues; delaying and reducing sexual activity; using protection as well as getting tested and treated as needed. The official website www.GYTNOW.org provides information about STDs, tips for talking about STDs and other resources. By texting their zip code to GYTNOW (498669), users receive information about testing locations to their cell phones.
Cornelia "Connie" Jessen is STD program manager at Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium.
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