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State officials are
worried about Department of Health data showing a 14.1 percent increase in
STDs in central Florida from 1995 to 2005.
Orange and Polk counties have the worst STD rates in central Florida, though
Osceola and Lake posted the most dramatic increases since 1995. Rates in
Brevard and Volusia counties have dropped. The data show minorities are
disproportionately affected by STDs. Lack of access to
health care
is a huge reason for this disparity, said Karla Schmitt, bureau chief for
STD prevention and control for the state health department.
Public health experts are not certain whether the rise means more infections
are actually occurring or rather that more people are getting screened.
Schmitt said infections could be rising because sex is still considered
taboo, leading to a lack of education and to misperceptions about STDs.
Another reason for the spike could be online "hooking up," in which people
find anonymous sex partners via Internet chat rooms.
Alternatively, the trend could reflect improvements made in public awareness
and testing in recent years. Orlando resident Jermaine Martin said he
regularly gets screened for STDs, in part due to enhanced awareness
campaigns. "If you turn on the TV you see it, and in school they teach you,"
said Martin, 22.
The Orange County Health Department, which promoted STD Awareness Month in
April, has hired more contact-tracing specialists to reach the partners of
those infected, said Jim Hinson, STD program manager for the department.
Experts agree greater public awareness and education are needed to combat
the trend.
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Orlando Sentinel
(07.10.07):: Tyeesha Dixon |
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We are providing the above information as a public
service only. Providing synopses of key scientific articles and lay
media reports on HIV/AIDS, other sexually transmitted diseases
does not constitute endorsement. The above summaries were prepared
without conducting any additional research or investigation into the
facts and statements made in the articles being summarized, and
therefore readers are expressly cautioned against relying on the
validity or invalidity of any statements made in these summaries. This
CDC HIV/STD/TB Prevention News
Update also includes information from CDC and
other government agencies, such as background on MMWR articles, fact
sheets and announcements. |
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