Prevention Matters

...antibiotics and STD screening.

This week CDC released its annual sexually transmitted diseases surveillance report, which showed that chlamydia and syphilis rates in the U.S. continued to rise in 2009. However, gonorrhea reached its lowest level in almost 70 years. All three STDs can be easily treated with antibiotics but can have serious consequences, including infertility and organ damage, if left untreated.

According to the report, chlamydia rates increased by 3% last year, with 409 cases per 100,000 people—representing an all-time high for reported chlamydia infections. The rate increased by almost 20% since 2006. On a positive note, CDC believes that the increase is likely attributed to expanded screening, and not an increase in the disease.

Unfortunately, large disparities still exist among racial and ethnic minority groups, with young African Americans baring a large burden of the disease.

STD screening can help detect disease early and, combined with treatment, is an effective way to protect a person’s health and reduce transmission to partners. One of the continuing problems is that less than half of the people who should be screened for STDs, do so. To help improve screening, as well as prevention and treatment of chlamydia, Partnership for Prevention convenes and leads the National Chlamydia Coalition, whose mission is to reduce the rates of Chlamydia and its harmful effects among sexually active adolescent and young adults.

Farmers markets are gaining popularity as a way to bring fresh produce to those living in food deserts. Whether farmers markets improve consumption of fruits and vegetables or impact obesity rates has yet to be determined. But such efforts are a step in the right direction to helping people eat a healthier diet. However, simply setting up a farmers market in a food desert without ensuring it is conveniently located, adequately promoted, offers appealing products, or provides education on how to prepare fresh produce will probably not result in many sales.

A recent Chicago Tribune article shows how several African-American churches around Chicago are doing things right. These churches have partnered with local farmers to bring fresh produce to their congregants, many of whom rely on convenience stores for their food. Weekly farmers markets are held in the church parking lots with onsite nutritionists and demonstrations on preparing traditional African American recipes in healthful ways.

A diet rich in fruits and vegetables reduces the risk for a host of diseases, including diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Both of these diseases plague racial and ethnic minority populations at much higher rates than whites. Farmers markets, community gardens, and other efforts to improve access to fresh produce should be continued, as well as finding ways to overcome barriers. One problem that has hurt farmers markets is the inability to use the electronic benefit transfer cards now given through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly the Food Stamp Program).

Alyson Hazen Kristensen, MPH
Senior Fellow & Program Officer
Partnership for Prevention