Sexually Transmitted Diseases On The Rise In RI: Report

WOONSOCKET, RI — Sexually transmitted diseases such as syphilis and gonorrhea skyrocketed in Rhode Island over the past decade, according to a new report from the state Department of Health. The report found that cases of both diseases are up nearly 400 percent since 2009, likely due to a combination of better testing and risky behavior.

The report broke down the rates of HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, hepatitis and tuberculosis, and compared demographic groups based on race, age and sexual orientation.

The report found that while some sexually transmitted diseases are far more diagnosed in recent years, the cases of new HIV and tuberculosis cases remains relatively low. The report also tracked the sexual activity and behavior of high school students in the state compared with those across the country through an anonymous survey.

The biggest jumps in diagnosed cases came in infectious syphilis where there has been an increase of 391 percent since 2009. The report said that 167 cases of infectious syphilis were diagnosed statewide in 2018 compared to just 34 in 2009. The report said that 47.4 percent of cases were among those in ages 30-39, while 32 percent were 20-29. The report also found that gay men, bisexual men and men who have sex with sex with other men were at a risk six times higher for syphilis than heterosexual men and women. African-Americans were at a risk three times higher than whites.

The report showed there were 1,336 cases of gonorrhea diagnosed in 2018 — which is a 359 percent increase since 2010. The report attributed the increase to more comprehensive testing and a strain of gonorrhea in the United States that is resistant to standard medication. Men were twice as likely to be diagnosed with gonorrhea than women, while African-American men were seven times more likely than whites to be diagnosed.

Chlamydia was also on the rise, but at a slower rate. There were 5,487 cases in Rhode Island in 2018 compared to 3,615 in 2009 — up 52 percent. Cases jumped slightly from 5,282 in 2017. Those ages 20-29 were the leading age group in new chlamydia diagnosis with females twice as likely to be diagnosed since men, likely because men with chlamydia are often asymptomatic.

Cases of newly diagnosed HIV dipped slightly to 73 cases in 2018 from 81 in 2017. The number is up from a low of 64 in 2015 with the report saying higher rates were likely due to higher testing rates. Rates are seven times higher among African-Americans compared to whites, and three times higher compared to Hispanics. There are an estimated 2,548 state residents living with HIV, with an estimated seven to eight percent who are HIV-positive but do not know their HIV status.

Cases of viral hepatitis were up 272 percent over the past 10 years with the most amount of cases in those ages 50-59. Cases of tuberculosis remained relatively low with 20 cases statewide in 2018.

The report stated that 25 percent of all new STD cases were diagnosed in sexually active adolescent girls due to "a combination of behavioral, biological and culture reasons."

The Youth Risk Behavioral Survey determined that Rhode Island high school student were slightly less sexual active than the national average. The survey determined that 36 percent of Rhode Island high school students reported having had sex, compared to 40 percent nationwide. The report said 26 percent of high school students were sexually active in 2018, compared to 29 percent nationwide. Four percent of those who responded said they had sex before age 13, compared to three percent nationally. Eight percent of those who responded said they had more than four sexual partners, compared to 10 percent nationally.

Rhode Island high school students reported not using a condom during sex 42 percent of the time, compared to 46 percent nationally.