Talking with the Media Talking with the Media about Youth and STDsabout Youth and STDs

Joan R. Cates, MPHJoan R. Cates, MPH

National STD Prevention ConferenceNational STD Prevention Conference

March 10, 2004March 10, 2004

Window of OpportunityWindow of Opportunity

• First time total estimates of STD incidence and First time total estimates of STD incidence and prevalence in youth from CDCprevalence in youth from CDC

• First time total economic costs of STDs in youth First time total economic costs of STDs in youth from CDCfrom CDC

• Companion report from University of North Companion report from University of North Carolina Carolina –– Chapel Hill on behavioral factors and Chapel Hill on behavioral factors and suggested solutionssuggested solutions

Incidence, Ages 15-24, Incidence, Ages 15-24, Year 2000Year 2000

• Hepatitis BHepatitis B 7,5007,500• SyphilisSyphilis 8,2008,200• HIVHIV 15,00015,000• GonorrheaGonorrhea 431,000431,000• Genital herpesGenital herpes 640,000640,000• ChlamydiaChlamydia 1,500,0001,500,000• TrichomoniasisTrichomoniasis 1,900,0001,900,000• HPVHPV 4,600,0004,600,000

TOTALTOTAL >9,000,000>9,000,000

Prevalence, Ages 15-24, Prevalence, Ages 15-24, Year 2000Year 2000

• ChlamydiaChlamydia 1,000,0001,000,000

• Genital herpesGenital herpes 4,200,0004,200,000

• HPVHPV 9,200,0009,200,000

TOTALTOTAL >14,000,000>14,000,000

Lifetime Direct Medical Costs Lifetime Direct Medical Costs for STDs in Youth, 2000for STDs in Youth, 2000

• SyphilisSyphilis $3,600,000$3,600,000• Hepatitis BHepatitis B $5,800,000$5,800,000• TrichomoniasisTrichomoniasis $34,200,000$34,200,000• GonorrheaGonorrhea $77,000,000$77,000,000• ChlamydiaChlamydia $248,400,000$248,400,000• Genital herpesGenital herpes $292,700,000$292,700,000• HPVHPV $2,900,000,000$2,900,000,000• HIV/AIDSHIV/AIDS $3,000,000,000$3,000,000,000

TOTALTOTAL $6,500,000,000$6,500,000,000

UNC ReportUNC Report

• Youth are vulnerable to lifelong Youth are vulnerable to lifelong consequencesconsequences

• No one solution for all youthNo one solution for all youth

• Silence makes the problem worseSilence makes the problem worse

• Families, communities, and Families, communities, and society at large have influencesociety at large have influence

Journalists want . . .Journalists want . . .

• TimelinessTimeliness

• SizeSize

• OddityOddity

• ImportanceImportance

• ProximityProximity

TimelinessTimeliness

• First time total estimates of STD First time total estimates of STD incidence and prevalence in youthincidence and prevalence in youth

• First time total economic costs of First time total economic costs of STDs in youthSTDs in youth

• Companion report on behavioral Companion report on behavioral factorsfactors

SizeSize

• Half of all new STDs each year are in Half of all new STDs each year are in youth 15-24youth 15-24

• Over 9 million new cases of STDs each Over 9 million new cases of STDs each year in youthyear in youth

• One year of STDs in youth costs health One year of STDs in youth costs health care system $6.5 billion over lifetimecare system $6.5 billion over lifetime

OddityOddity

• STDs are most often “silent” and go STDs are most often “silent” and go undetectedundetected

• STDs hit young women the hardestSTDs hit young women the hardest

• Undetected and untreated STDs can Undetected and untreated STDs can have serious lifelong consequenceshave serious lifelong consequences

ImportanceImportance

• STDs are preventableSTDs are preventable• Avoid exposureAvoid exposure• Abstinence, uninfected partner, condomsAbstinence, uninfected partner, condoms

• STDs are detectableSTDs are detectable• ScreeningScreening• Diagnostic testsDiagnostic tests

• STDs are treatableSTDs are treatable• Cure bacterial infectionsCure bacterial infections• Manage viral infectionsManage viral infections

ProximityProximity

• One out of two sexually active youth will One out of two sexually active youth will get an STD by age of 25get an STD by age of 25

• Not doing all we can to fight these Not doing all we can to fight these infectionsinfections• CommunicationCommunication• EducationEducation• Access to servicesAccess to services• Use of technologiesUse of technologies

Most STDs Are UndetectedMost STDs Are Undetected

Undetected STDs Affect Undetected STDs Affect Females more than MalesFemales more than Males

Undetected, Untreated STDs Undetected, Untreated STDs Cost $$$Cost $$$

Tell the STD Stories . . .Tell the STD Stories . . .

• Our Voices, Our Our Voices, Our Lives, Our Futures: Lives, Our Futures: Youth and STDsYouth and STDs

• www.jomc.unc.eduwww.jomc.unc.edu

• JoanCates@unc.eduJoanCates@unc.edu