Mississippi affected worse than any other state by sexually transmitted infections
A recent study found that sexually transmitted illnesses impacted Mississippi more than any other state in the country.
Researchers at Universal Drugstore looked at states with the highest and lowest rates of STIs as well as those with a growing number of cases of gonorrhea, syphilis and chlamydia. The statistics came from the CDC.
Mississippi STI cases
Mississippi’s overall STI score was 9.64 out of 10. Mississippians suffered most from chlamydia, with 700.9 cases per 100,000 residents. That amounted to 20,603 reported cases.
With 7,382 reported cases, gonorrhea cases averaged 251.1 per 100,000 residents. Mississippi’s 3,401 reported cases of syphilis averaged 115.7 cases per 100,000 residents.
Preventative measures
Researchers also considered the rate of teenagers vaccinated for human papillomavirus (HPV). Only 38.5% of Mississippi teens, ages 13 to 17, have been vaccinated for HPV, which protects against infections that could cause cancer. The national average for vaccinated teenagers is 62.6%.
The study also found that Mississippi had the highest teen (ages 15 to 19) birth rate.
Other findings
- Georgia had the highest rate of HIV, averaging 23.1 reported cases per 100,000 residents. The state had 2,100 reported cases. Louisiana had the next highest rate of HIV, 18.2 per 100,000 residents and 700 reported cases.
- Arkansas saw the highest rise in HIV cases since 2018, rising 66.7%.
- Minnesota had the lowest rate of HIV cases: 4.5 per 100,000.
- New York, Georgia and California had the highest rate of Monkeypox.
- Rhode Island had the highest rate of HPV vaccinations.
- Vermont is the only state that saw a reduction in reported syphilis cases in the last five years.
- New Hampshire, Vermont and Idaho had the lowest rates of STI infections.
