Curable STIs spreading seems absurd. When an STI can be diagnosed, treated and cured there shouldn’t be any reason why it is spreading. However recent reports state that commonly curable STIs are spreading amongst the population despite this.
When STIs spread, it’s usually due to lack of sexual education, contraception and sexual health services to test for and then treat STIs diagnosed. It’s easy for judgemental types to dismiss STIs as just being something that ‘promiscuous’ people get and claim that abstinence is the only way to stay pure.
In reality, while STIs are more commonly affecting populations in poorer countries. Anyone is susceptible to catching an STI if somebody is a carrier without knowing or knows and doesn’t seek treatment.
WHO reports
The World Health Organisation (WHO) say that over a million new STIs are recorded every single day amongst people aged 15-49. Which translates to over 41,000 new cases every single hour every day. That’s a lot of unsafe sex.
In 2016, the WHO reports 127 million new cases of chlamydia and 87 million cases of gonorrhoea in 2016. As well as there being a rise in new cases of syphilis (6.3 million) and trichomoniasis (156 million) across the world. These are four curable STIs which can be easily identified and solved yet are spreading.
Dr Peter Salama, Executive Director for Universal Health Coverage and the Life-Course at WHO states:
“We’re seeing a concerning lack of progress in stopping the spread of sexually transmitted infections worldwide. This is a wake-up call for a concerted effort to ensure everyone, everywhere can access the services they need to prevent and treat these debilitating diseases.”
It’s not surprising that lower income countries have higher transmission rates for STIs generally. Gonorrhoea, trichomoniasis, syphilis and HIV all occur more commonly in countries where poverty is widespread. Due arguably due to a lack of sexual education and health resources to prevent the spread.
Whereas an STI like chlamydia occurs more in developed countries with higher income amongst the population. That’s not to say that third world countries don’t also experience chlamydia issues.
Africa had the highest prevalence for chlamydia amongst men, gonorrhea and syphilis in both genders. While North and South America both record the highest rates of chlamydia in women and of trichomoniasis in men.
Why are STIs spreading?
While all STIs can be transmitted through unprotected sex, some STIs can also transfer during pregnancy. When pregnant mothers carry STIs, unless their health is checked and they receive treatment, they are likely to pass on their condition to their children.
Lack of sexual health resources in developing countries is a key reason why there is a higher rate of STIs amongst the population. When people are too poor to afford contraception or are unable to attend sexual health clinics, being able to diagnose, treat and prevent the spread of STIs is difficult.
In comparison, more developed countries with less poverty such as North America, England and Australia all have better access to sexual health care. Being able to attend sexual health clinics easily or visiting a doctor means that someone who presents symptoms of an STI or just wants a regular health screening can visit and get support.
Political and Religious impact
Provision of sexual health care is controlled by the government in each country. Based on political views and religious influence, each authority will determine a different policy on whether to provide funding for sexual health care and what they will allow.
Conservative governments restrict family planning services or outright ban them. Argentina criminalises abortion altogether to the extent that they’ll imprison a woman who miscarry on the grounds of a ‘suspected abortion attempt.’ When governments deny contraceptive funding, they increase the risk of unplanned pregnancies and make way for STIs spreading.
Historically the Catholic Church condemns the use of condoms on the grounds that stopping procreation goes against God.The Phillipines has higher pregnancy rates and higher maternal mortality levels due to bans on contraceptive funding.
Argentina and the Phillipines demonstrate situations where an increase in STIs spreading is due to inadequate government-led health care. Whereas Zambia proves a case study of sexual health funding suffering due to overseas influence.
Donald Trump’s “global gag rule” signed in 2017 has blocked funding to any overseas organisations which provide abortions. This loss of US-aid has led to Zambian clinics who offer family planning support being unable to operate successfully. Leading to a rise in teenage pregnancies and a drop in sexual health testing. Notably causing a drop in treatment rate for HIV positive people.
Implications of poor sexual health care
The influence of religion and politics are not the only reasons why curable STIs spreading is an issue. But they are fundamental factors in why governments are failing to provide adequate sexual health care and education.
Lack of funding due to poverty or budget cuts from overseas AID relief causes less people to be diagnosed. When the clinics cannot fully treat their community, more people are at risk of spreading STIs through unsafe sex.
People who cannot have sexual health tests can be spreading STIs unknowingly. Not having a diagnosis early enough can lead to death in cases of HIV and syphilis. Commonly curable STIs like chlamydia, trichomoniasis and gonnorrhoea can lead to infertility and other severe health issues.