About the data

Source: CDC NCHHSTP AtlasPlus portal

Time: The county level data for STDs and social determinants were downloaded on April 21, 2024. The statewide data for STDs and time comparison were downloaded April 24, 2024.

Why are STDs important to study?

While case counts per age group may support the idea that sexually transmitted diseases are mainly the concern of younger people, the unique distribution of cases within each STD can inform on patterns and similarities within affected parties.

The variance between states is also important to recognize as efforts for STD prevention (related education, health initiatives, access to care, etc.) is typically organized by state and local governments.

STD case counts and rates by State

Rates are per every 100,000 people. Syphilis and Total cases do not have rates because they are aggregates of types of cases.

What makes syphilis cases different from other STDs?

Syphilis, which is divided into the four categories (Primary and Secondary; Congenital; Early Non-Primary, Non-Secondary; and Unknown Duration or Late), is demographically different from other STDs having more of a right skewed case distribution in age.

While the types exhibit different symptoms, they all were marked by rate increases from 2000-2022

Congenital syphilis differs from the rest as it involves infection during birth from a mother with syphilis.

Social Determinants that impact STD rates

Within U.S. counties, lower education rates and STD infection rates are directly correlated.

Alongside the uninsured population, number of vacant homes, and households in poverty, the amount of people over 25+ without a high school diploma are one among many of the social determinants of health.

The correlation between the number of adults aged 25+ who do not have a high school diploma and a county’s total number of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis cases is statistically significant indicating that there is a direct relationship between the number of adults without diplomas and STD infection.

Looking into all determinant correlations, it is clear that there are strong correlations for all. This may potentially indicate a commonality between all, but tread carefully because correlation does not imply causation.

Because there was no county level data for congenital syphilis, more should be done to look into its causes statewide.

Racial compositions of primary and secondary syphilis cases

Primary and secondary syphilis are the early stages of syphilis infection that can be treated and are distinguished by visible symptoms.

They are most comparable to gonorrhea and chlamydia because of the time it takes for them to be recognized and infection methods.

The stages, however, embody a different race distribution across their cases.

Story Ideas

  1. Why have STD counts doubled?

  2. What factors have contributed to the increase in congenital syphilis?

  3. Why do racial minorities comprise the majority of chlamydia and gonorrhea cases and not syphilis?