Lovely Bakersfield, California is located in Kern County, a unique Irish outpost on the West Coast of the United States. The city and larger county area is home to over 880,000 residents1 and is an area of Southern California with a variety to see and do, like enjoying concerts at the Rabobank Arena or catching or setting sail with family and friends along Ming Lake.
The city of Bakersfield and Kern County are currently experiencing a rise in sexually transmitted diseases in the area, namely with reported numbers of HIV and primary and secondary (P&S) syphilis. Getting tested for STDs might seem embarrassing or even shameful, but it doesn’t need to be. Setting up a screening appointment at your primary care physician’s office can sometimes take weeks and waiting rooms at free clinics can often feel crowded. Discover a different option that offers the same elevated standard of care, in a timeframe that is fast, affordable and tailored to your individual schedule. Read on to learn more.
Chlamydia is the most commonly reported sexually transmitted disease in the Bakersfield and Kern County area, and this infection is currently on the decline. In 2014, 6,276 cases were reported in Kern County compared to 6,433 reported the year before. The 2013 number of infections reflects the highest number of new reported infections between 2010 and 2014. Gonorrhea saw a year-over-year-decrease in the area, albeit a slight decrease. In 2014, 1,542 new infections were reported to the California Department of Public Health compared to 1,567 infections reported the year before. From 2010-2014, the highest number of cases reported was once again 2013. Primary and secondary syphilis in Kern County is on the rise with 141 reported cases in 2013 compared to 119 in 2014.2,4&5
The rate of HIV continues to rise in Bakersfield and Kern County. In 2013, the rate of infection totaled 78.9 cases per 100,000 residents compared to a rate of 77.2/100,000 the year before. Compared to the rest of the counties across California, Kern ranks 11th out of 58 in the state for total numbers of HIV infection. Getting tested is an important preventive measure for promoting the sexual health of everyone in Bakersfield and Kern County.6&7 Make it simple, cost-effective and confidential with STDtest.com.
The California Department of Education mandates a comprehensive approach to sexual education in all of its schools across the state, including Bakersfield. Comprehensive sexual education is defined by two objective approaches. Firstly, to provide students with the education regarding sexually transmitted disease facts and prevention, HIV/AIDs, methods to prevent teen pregnancy, in addition to providing students with the information and skills to make healthy choices, recognize healthy relationship behaviors and develop a strong sense of self-esteem. In a similar vein, it is instructed by the state education department that all teachers in public schools instruct on all given topics provided, picking and choosing what educators would prefer to impart is legally looked down upon.8
Preparing young people of the realities of sexually transmitted disease is an important measure in favor of stopping the spread, especially in a growing community like Bakersfield. Of the sexually active population in the US, teenagers and young adults make up 27%, but account for 50% of all annual sexually transmitted infections.9 This staggering statistic makes it even more important to educate youth in schools about the risks of these diseases, how to avoid them and what steps to take like testing when they encounter a risky situation.
Just as young people are disproportionately affected by STDs across the U.S., the youth of Kern County report STIs in high numbers as well. Regarding the rate of chlamydia, 67.9% of all cases in the county were reported in women between the ages of 15-24. Of the 6,276 overall chlamydia cases reported to the California Department of Public Health, 62.1% were reported in women compared to 38.8% in men. The racial/ethnic group with the highest number of reported infections in 2014 was that Latina/Latino population, with a total of 2,707 chlamydia diagnoses.11
Gonorrhea in Bakersfield and Kern County sees less of a discrepancy in the reports between male and female diagnoses. Of 1,542 total infections in the county, 680 were reported in women compared to 862 reported in men. Once again, the Latina/Latino population saw the highest number of gonorrhea infections, with 564 new infections attributed to this demographic group. Men reported cases of primary and secondary in far greater numbers compared to women, per the Kern County information furnished by the CDPH. In fact, 73.8% of all P&S diagnoses are attributed to this demographic population. Of this 78%, Latino men reported 62 of 104 male infections.10 Similarly, all across California, men are more likely to contract HIV compared to women, making up 86% of total HIV cases in 2013.7 Spreading the word about getting tested to individuals in high risk populations is crucial for attaining the goals of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy, the nationwide effort to decrease the impact of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus across the country.11
Dedicate your free time to more of what you enjoy in Bakersfield, like visiting the beautiful Wind Wolves Preserve, rather than spending time waiting around for an STD testing appointment. Getting tested can be simple, efficient and affordable with STDtest.com. Getting started means choosing the panel of tests that’s right for you. Next, choose your testing location. You can make a brief visit (usually 30 minutes or less) at a local lab nearest you for test sample collection, no appointment needed.
Your test results will be available usually within 48 hours or less. The medical team is available to answer any follow up questions you might have and even to prescribe treatment, if medically appropriate and if allowed by state law. Get tested. It’s for your better health.