January 15, 2009

CDC Report on Sexually Transmitted Diseases Shows Need for Increased Prevention Strategies

Washington D.C. – This week's CDC Annual Report on Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) shows an alarming trend in unhealthy sexual behaviors in youth that may have serious implications for increased HIV infections in this population.

The annual report, CDC Sexually Transmitted Diseases Surveillance, 2007, showed an increased prevalence in STDs among the adolescent and young adult populations aged 15-19 and 20-24.  There was an increase in both age groups, adolescent and young adults, for chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis cases in 2007 compared to previous years. The report stated, "Recent estimates suggest that while representing 25% of the ever sexually active population, 15 to 24 year-olds acquire nearly half of all new STDs."

"We remain concerned about the extremely high occurrence and increase of STD prevalence in the youth and minority populations. AIDS Alliance is committed to working to significantly reduce these rates in the future through targeted programming and awareness efforts," said AIDS Alliance for Children, Youth and Families Board President Alelia Munroe. "We believe ineffective abstinence-only programs have contributed to the problem, and we support shifting funding from abstinence-only education to scientifically-accurate, age appropriate comprehensive sex education to encourage our young people to learn healthy sexual practices."

Among those most at risk include minority and racial ethnic groups, specifically the African American and Hispanic/Latino populations. With rates of STDs climbing dramatically in these populations, there are several indicators that suggest that this can be linked to an overall set of institutional barriers to getting the quality of services that are very much needed.

As the voice for children, youth and families infected and affected by HIV/AIDS, AIDS Alliance views the results of this report as another opportunity to echo the importance for increased availability of services and increased programming in order to raise awareness of the prevalence and severity of STDs throughout the United States. AIDS Alliance programs such as Girls 4 HOPE and the Consumer Leadership Corps Training Program aim to reach out to these high risk populations in order to educate them to become leaders and educators to their peers.  Giving someone the tools to lead a healthy lifestyle while they are young greatly increases their chances of living their lives to its greatest capacity.

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Founded in 1994, AACYF is a national non-profit organization whose mission is to advance the partnership between consumers and providers – we are the voice of women, children, youth and families living with and affected by HIV/AIDS.  AACYF works to enhance and expand access to quality, comprehensive, family-centered care to America's children, youth and families affected by HIV/AIDS, as it represents the nation's network of over 650 Ryan White Part D funded community-based organizations.  Part D programs serve over 53,000 HIV-affected women, children, youth and families through sites located in 35 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.