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Joan R. Cates, MPH National STD Prevention Conference March 10, 2004. Talking with the Media about Youth and STDs. Window of Opportunity. First time total estimates of STD incidence and prevalence in youth from CDC First time total economic costs of STDs in youth from CDC
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Joan R. Cates, MPH National STD Prevention Conference March 10, 2004 Talking with the Media about Youth and STDs
Window of Opportunity • First time total estimates of STD incidence and prevalence in youth from CDC • First time total economic costs of STDs in youth from CDC • Companion report from University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill on behavioral factors and suggested solutions
Incidence, Ages 15-24, Year 2000 • Hepatitis B 7,500 • Syphilis 8,200 • HIV 15,000 • Gonorrhea 431,000 • Genital herpes 640,000 • Chlamydia 1,500,000 • Trichomoniasis 1,900,000 • HPV 4,600,000 TOTAL >9,000,000
Prevalence, Ages 15-24, Year 2000 • Chlamydia 1,000,000 • Genital herpes 4,200,000 • HPV 9,200,000 TOTAL >14,000,000
Lifetime Direct Medical Costs for STDs in Youth, 2000 • Syphilis $3,600,000 • Hepatitis B $5,800,000 • Trichomoniasis $34,200,000 • Gonorrhea $77,000,000 • Chlamydia $248,400,000 • Genital herpes $292,700,000 • HPV $2,900,000,000 • HIV/AIDS $3,000,000,000 TOTAL $6,500,000,000
UNC Report • Youth are vulnerable to lifelong consequences • No one solution for all youth • Silence makes the problem worse • Families, communities, and society at large have influence
Journalists want . . . • Timeliness • Size • Oddity • Importance • Proximity
Timeliness • First time total estimates of STD incidence and prevalence in youth • First time total economic costs of STDs in youth • Companion report on behavioral factors
Size • Half of all new STDs each year are in youth 15-24 • Over 9 million new cases of STDs each year in youth • One year of STDs in youth costs health care system $6.5 billion over lifetime
Oddity • STDs are most often “silent” and go undetected • STDs hit young women the hardest • Undetected and untreated STDs can have serious lifelong consequences
Importance • STDs are preventable • Avoid exposure • Abstinence, uninfected partner, condoms • STDs are detectable • Screening • Diagnostic tests • STDs are treatable • Cure bacterial infections • Manage viral infections
Proximity • One out of two sexually active youth will get an STD by age of 25 • Not doing all we can to fight these infections • Communication • Education • Access to services • Use of technologies
Tell the STD Stories . . . • Our Voices, Our Lives, Our Futures: Youth and STDs • www.jomc.unc.edu • JoanCates@unc.edu