Latinos More Exposed to Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Factors such as working conditions, income, housing, and access to affordable health services contribute to disparate sexual health outcomes.
As with most diseases, sexually transmitted infections disparately affect different sectors of the population, and Latinos are at greater risk than other groups. The reason for the disproportion, as revealed by scientific research published in the National Library of Medicine on sexually transmitted infections in Durham, NC, is not associated with more promiscuous sexual practices. Instead, it would be linked to levels of marginalization and access to health coverage. “In Durham County, North Carolina, lack of health insurance, use of public transportation, and low income were the factors most strongly associated with the incidence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs),” the researchers said. They stressed, in this sense, that “differences in the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections in certain groups are unlikely to be explained by differences in sexual behavior.” On the contrary, they argue that they are “more likely” to reflect unequal access to health care. In other words, factors such as working conditions, income, housing, and access to affordable health services contribute to disparate sexual health outcomes. Latinos Most at Risk to Sexually Transmitted Diseases Nationwide According to data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis disproportionately affect Hispanics in the United States. In 2018, the rate of reported chlamydia cases among Hispanics was 392.6 per 100,000 population. That’s 1.9 times the rate among whites. The rate of reported gonorrhea cases among Hispanics was 115.9 cases per 100,000 population. The number represents 1.6 times the rate among whites. As for primary and secondary syphilis, the infection rate among Hispanics was double that of whites. And when it comes to congenital syphilis, transmitted from mothers to babies, infections among Latinos were three times higher than those among non-Hispanic white people. “Latinos, as with other diseases, are in a disadvantaged position because many have never been to the doctor, don’t get checkups or don’t have health insurance,” Dr. Lucía Abascal, from the University of California, told Enlace Latino NC. In that sense, she stressed that “Latinos are the least insured population.” And, even though there are resources for people without health insurance, the lack of information means that many people are unaware of them, and unable to access them. Finally, Abascal also highlighted some myths and taboos that are part of the culture among Latinos and that could put them at risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases. “There’s the man’s prejudice of not using a condom. The idea of putting yourself at risk. These behaviors go hand-in-hand with preventable infections,” she said. |