Social determinants of sexual health in the USA among racial and ethnic minorities

Abstract

Despite improvements in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections (STI), racial and ethnic minority populations continue to experience disproportionately higher rates and increasing numbers of persons diagnosed with STIs. For example, in 37 states with mature HIV surveillance systems, there were 35,526 persons 13 years old who received diagnoses of HIV in 2009, 71 % of whom were racial and ethnic minorities [1]. Further disparities were also observed among persons reported with syphilis, gonorrhea, and Chlamydia. In 2009, more than 70 % of syphilis, 82 % of gonorrhea, and 71 % of Chlamydia cases were among racial and ethnic minorities [2].