Philadelphia, Pennsylvania has been identified as the city with the highest STI rates in the United States. According to a recent analysis conducted by health research firm Innerbody, one in 65 residents in Philadelphia were diagnosed with an infection in 2022, making it the most affected metropolitan area in the country.
The study found that STI rates have been on the rise over the past decade, with chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis cases seeing a notable increase. Despite a slight easing in HIV transmission, the overall prevalence of STIs has continued to climb, disproportionately affecting gay men.
Among the top five cities with the highest STI rates following Philadelphia are Memphis, Tennessee; Jackson, Mississippi; New Orleans, Louisiana; and St. Louis, Missouri. Surprisingly, San Francisco, California, a well-known gay hotspot, ranked eighth on the list of metropolitan areas with high STI rates.
For individuals seeking to reside in cities with lower rates of STIs, Provo, Utah emerged as a favorable option, ranking 100th in the list. Notably, Provo boasts a sizable Mormon population, with only 300 out of every 100,000 residents diagnosed with an STD, significantly lower than the national average.
The data, broken down state-by-state by Innerbody, shed light on the areas most affected by STIs, highlighting a significant concentration of high rates in southern states. Seventeen out of the top 25 cities with the highest STI rates are located in the southern region, a trend reminiscent of the prevalence of HIV transmission in the same areas.
Interestingly, Baltimore, Maryland, a city that previously ranked fourth on the list in 2021, was conspicuously missing from the recent analysis due to unavailability of its 2022 data. The CDC had allocated $1 million in funding to Baltimore in response to its high STI rates the previous year.
In efforts to combat rising STI rates, health experts recommend following guidance from the US Department of Health and Human Services. This includes collaborating with pharmacies and clinics to enhance access to STD testing and treatment, as well as exploring the potential of telehealth services and express clinics for immediate testing.
Although STI rates had initially decreased in 2020 amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the numbers in 2022 have regrettably returned to pre-pandemic levels. With 710,000 new cases of gonorrhea and 1.6 million cases of chlamydia reported, along with a 28.6% spike in syphilis rates in just one year, the need for increased awareness and preventive measures remains paramount. Gay men, in particular, are advised to undergo annual sexual health check-ups and more frequent testing if engaging in risky behavior.
Overall, the findings underscore the importance of proactive measures to address the escalation of STI rates across the United States, signaling the urgent need for enhanced education, access to testing, and community support in combatting the spread of sexually transmitted infections.