public health

Recession affects spread of STDs

Increases in poverty, divorce could lead to higher rates, officials say.

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By Chris Rizer, Staff Writer Updated 10:01 AM Tuesday, July 5, 2011

The economic downturn could be to blame for the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, according to local health officials.

“The more poverty increases, the more divorce rates increase, the more bad things happen on a social level and that certainly would contribute to the transmission of STDs and other diseases as well,” said Donald Brannen, epidemiologist, Greene County Combined Health District.

Increases in STD rates result from unprotected sex and intercourse with multiple partners, Brannen said. Poverty, lack of education, social networking via the Internet, and drug use encourage such practices.

The 2010 rates for chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis in Montgomery County are higher than the state and national rate while rates in Greene, Warren and Miami counties were lower. “We will continue to educate our citizens on what they should do to protect themselves during sexual activity,” to keep rates down, said Jim Gross, health commissioner for Montgomery County.

Chlamydia rates in Miami County increased from 167.6 per 100,000 people to 230.5 between 2006 and 2010.

For the same time period, the rate went from 198 per 100,000 people to 316.6 in Greene County and Warren County showed a 103.6 to 171.7 increase.

Montgomery County’s STD rates didn’t show a significant change from 2006 to 2010.

Jen Keagy, STD prevention program manager for the Ohio Department of Health said the biggest reason for any state having high STD rates is due to a lack of funding to educate the 15- to 24-year-old age group not being educated about how to protect themselves against STDs.

“I think a combination of a lack of knowledge and diminishing resources has greatly contributed to our increase in cases,” she said.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2188 or crizer @DaytonDailyNews.com.

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