Everyone knows that Disneyland is in Anaheim, making it one of the most sought-after destinations in the United States. This scenic California town is the biggest metropolitan area in Orange County, known for its idyllic beaches and laid-back lifestyle. It might be advertised in television and movies as an area that doesn’t experience adversity, but the continued prevalence of STDs in Anaheim is impossible to avoid.
According to the US Census Bureau, Anaheim is home to nearly 347,000 residents, and the greater Orange County statistical reporting area reports nearly 3.17 million. It is the Hispanic population in the area that often sees the highest incidence of disease and the least amount of linkage to care, in the case of post-HIV diagnosis.1&2 STD testing options in Anaheim and Orange County can vary from scheduling a visit with a primary care physician and going to a free clinic. STDtest.com offers a testing option that is tailored to your schedule. Read on to learn more about this fast, confidential and affordable option for when you’re in need of STD testing.
Why not enjoy life to the full extent in the Anaheim sunshine by resting easy about STD testing? Take a weight off your shoulders by getting tested. Getting tested can lead to a lowering of the spread of disease, and with rates in Anaheim either starting to stabilize or decline, making it even easier for at-risk individuals to reach out and get tested will help improve community health even further. If you have been with multiple partners in the last year, have been or are currently with a partner who has tested positive in the past, or you are experiencing STD-like symptoms, knowing the best way to get started is essential step toward better sexual health.
With an HIV rate in the area of 183.9 infections per 100,000 people, getting tested allows residents the potential of lowering the rate and progressing further toward the goals delineated by the National HIV/AIDS Strategy.3 This strategy, first introduced in 2010, outlines a plan for care in an effort to significantly lower the spread of HIV nationwide by 2020. Indicators for success would include 90% of all HIV-positive patients to be tested and have knowledge of their status, the reduction of new infections by 25% and lowering the percentage of young gay and bi-sexual men, one of the highest HIV risk groups, by at least 10%, as outlined by AIDS.org. Getting tested is the first step in achieving these goals in a coordinated national effort to stop the epidemic of HIV nationwide.4
Sexually transmitted diseases in Anaheim and the greater Orange County experience various rates of increase in decline, according to the reports published by the California Department of Public Health. Chlamydia, the most commonly reported STD in Orange County and in the state of California, saw an increase in reported numbers between 2013 and 2014, with 8,548 new infections compared to 9,292, respectively. Gonorrhea cases are also on the rise in Anaheim and the greater Orange County area. In 2013, 1,452 new infections were reported in 2013 compared to 1,796 in 2014. Conversely, a sexually transmitted disease that saw a decrease in number of infections in 2014 compared to the year before was primary and secondary syphilis. 141 cases were reported in 2014, compared to 199 the year prior. 5-6
The rate of HIV infections in Anaheim and the greater Orange County area continues to fluctuate. In 2012, 260 new cases were reported, compared to 275 in 2013 and 190 in 2014. This decrease in new HIV infections is a promising development for Anaheim and the Orange County community at large. In the Orange County HIV Continuum of Care reports, there is an emphasis on how the county is progressing towards the National HIV/AIDS Strategy, or NHAS. One benchmark for success Anaheim and the greater Orange County area continues to struggle with is decreasing the rate of infection and linkage to care in populations the most highly infected with the disease. In Orange County, the Hispanic population estimated to be living with HIV is less likely to be linked to HIV care (59.3%) or virally suppressed (69.9%) than other demographic populations in the area.2-4
The latest addition to sexual education in the state of California is an inclusion of curriculum highlighting the dangers of sexual harassment, violence, dating and relationship safety and consent.This curriculum revision was recommended by Bill SB-695, effective in January 2016, is one of the first in the nation to expand sexual education curriculum standards in this manner.7
Assembly Bill 309 paved the way for comprehensive sexual education in all California public schools, including all public districts in Anaheim and Orange County. AB309 became effective in October 2015, effectively mandating comprehensive, medically accurate and age-appropriate sexual education for students age 7-12. This progressive approach to sex ed on a statewide level is promising for keeping adolescents and young adults informed of the risks involved with sex and STDs.8
The more comprehensive the knowledge base, the more likely a young person will know they are at risk for an STD, even if they are at risk for one that exhibits no symptoms. Any sexually active woman under the age of 25 should get tested for chlamydia, according to the CDC. Also, anyone who has had multiple partners within the last year, has potentially been exposed to an STD or is experiencing STD-like symptoms should get tested periodically.9
Anaheim accounts for nearly 10% of the overall population of Orange County (approximately 300,000 residents in Anaheim vs. approximately 3 million Orange County residents). This can be interpreted from various Orange County and Anaheim reported numbers, for example, the rate of individuals living with HIV of 183.9/100,000 compared to 8.3/100,000, respectively. However, the demographic distribution of sexually transmitted diseases in both Anaheim and Orange County is relatively similar. According to the 2014 HIV Surveillance Report, 84.8% of people living with HIV in Anaheim are male, compared to 84.6% in the greater Orange County area. Additionally, Anaheim is the 3rd largest community in Orange County for reports of people living with HIV (PLWHIV), preceded by Laguna Beach and Santa Ana. In Anaheim, 59.1% are Hispanic, compared to 27% caucasian, 6.7% black and 6.4 Asian/Pacific Islander. 2-3
In Orange County, the disproportionate rates of infection for other STDs in the Hispanic population continue. In the case of chlamydia, of the 9,292 cases reported in 2014, 2,954 were attributed to this demographic group. Regarding gonorrhea reports, 51.8% of cases were attributed to members of the Hispanic population as well. Primary and secondary (P&S) syphilis saw a similar trend with 55.6% of the cases reported in men and 72.7% of the cases reported in women. 5-6
Skip the stress and take advantage of all that Anaheim has to offer, like a wide range of amusement parks and the dazzling beauty Southern California is known for. Getting tested is simple, confidential and affordable with STDtest.com. Just pick the individual tests or testing panels that are right for you, then choose a nearby lab location from our network of thousands that is most convenient for you, no appointment required and same-day testing available. Sample test collection usually takes 30 minutes or less. Test results are usually ready within 24 to 48 hours. Our medical team is available to answer your questions and prescribe treatment, if appropriate. It’s that simple. Get tested.