According to the San Diego Health and Human Services Agency, the number of reported sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV, chronic hepatitis B, chronic hepatitis C, primary, secondary and congenital syphilis and gonorrhea continues to rise. The community of Chula Vista is integrated into San Diego’s South Region Center, and the improvement of all health centers in the county depends on effective testing and treatment for all residents at risk or affected by sexually transmitted disease.^2&4

Getting tested for sexually transmitted diseases can feel stressful, but with STDtest.com, you can reach out to a dedicated team of Care Advisors available 7 days a week to answer your questions and guide you through the process. All STDs can be treated and many can be cured, and getting a diagnosis is the first step in the link to effective care.5 Take control of your sexual health and make more for the things you enjoy most in Chula Vista, like outdoor concerts at the Sleep Train Amphitheater.

STD Test Statistics in Chula Vista, CA

Chula Vista reports the 2nd highest number of HIV and AIDs infections in the county, following San Diego, as reported by the the HIV/AIDS Epidemiology Program of San Diego County. Chula Vista reported 224 cases of people living HIV in 2011, compared to 4,910 across San Diego County. More recently, other STDs in the Chula Vista and San Diego area with increased number of infections include gonorrhea, which rose from 2,865 new infections in 2013 to 3,391 in 2014. Primary and secondary syphilis also saw significant increases, with a year-over-year increase of 6% between 2013 and 2014. Cases of congenital syphilis increased from 3 to 5 over this time period. Any case of congenital syphilis can cause serious medical issues or even infant mortality, according to the CDC. Chronic cases of hepatitis B and C are also increasing San Diego County, with year over year reports of 856 versus 970 in the case of hepatitis B and 2,220 versus 2,502 in the case of chronic Hepatitis C.^1&2

One sexually transmitted infection on the decline in Chula Vista and the greater San Diego County area is chlamydia, although it still remains the most commonly reported STD in both the county and across the state of California. In 2014, 15,613 new infections were reported in San Diego county, compared to 16,042 reported in 2013. Looking at data spanning from 2010-2014, the highest number of chlamydia cases reported in the county was 16,538 in 2013.² Getting tested is a simple way to slow down the spread of sexually transmitted diseases in these Southern California communities.

STD Testing and Sexual Education in Chula Vista, CA

San Diego County offers comprehensive sexual education in all of its public schools. Recently, San Diego County received a grant from the CDC Division of Adolescent and School Health to present curriculum that is age-appropriate, medically accurate with a focus on informing students about HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases and prevention methods, ways to access community resources, contraception and other methods to decrease teen pregnancy. In addition, the grant requires the distribution of the CDC Youth Behavior Risk Survey (YBRS) to students in the service area, with the intention of collecting relevant data to help make decisions and improve curriculum in the future, not just for Chula Vista and San Diego County residents, but for young adults across the nation.⁷

In a report detailing the success of comprehensive sexual education in the San Diego Unified School District, researchers cited that the strengths of the program were enhanced by community support and supplementary programming outside of a school setting, as well as collaboration with the school nursing staff, a committee of dedicated parents, a pediatrician and selected community members to compile and review Family Life and sexual education curriculum on a regular basis, to maintain compliance with the CDC grant standards and to improve the education surrounding the risks facing young people today. This open discussion is an encouragement for students at risk to get tested, which contributes to lowering the rates of STDs in young people, one of the groups most affected by their continued spread.⁸

STD Testing and Demographics in Chula Vista

It’s true that young people, particularly adolescents and young adults age 15-24, are greatly impacted by the rate of STDs in Chula Vista and San Diego County. To demonstrate, young women of this age group report the highest number of all chlamydia infections countywide. The most common age group affected by gonorrhea in San Diego County are males age 20-29. Males account for nearly double the number of gonorrhea infections than females, as well. The age group most impacted by diagnoses of primary and secondary syphilis is males age 25-44. African American males contracted the disease 1.9 times more than Caucasian males. Also of note, the rate of P&S syphilis cases reported by females increased by 111% in 2014.⁹

Reports of HIV have doubled in recent years in the South Region of San Diego County. The racial/ethnic group that reported the greatest number of infections was the Hispanic population, with 20% of all infections compared the the African American population with 15%. Another population segment exhibiting high risk for HIV in Chula Vista and San Diego County are men who have sex with men (MSM), who comprise 75% of all reported HIV infections in 2014.⁹ Getting tested and treated for these sexually transmitted diseases are effective methods of lowering impact on communities at high risk.

Your Best Chula Vista STD Testing Option

Why miss any additional opportunities to soak the up the sun on Silver Strand Beach by waiting and worrying about your STD status? Getting tested should be simple, fast, confidential and affordable, and STDtes.com makes it possible. Getting starting involves answering a few simple questions to then receive your doctor-recommended panel of STD tests.  Next, you’ll choose a testing option. You can choose a brief visit (usually 30 minutes or less) at a local lab in your area, with thousands to choose from nationwide. If available in your area, you can can get tested at home, work or another convenient location with In-Home Collection that same day with only an hour’s notice. 

For both options, results are usually available within three business days or less. The medical team is available for follow up, to answer any questions you might have and to prescribe additional treatment if medically appropriate and if permitted by state law. Get tested for STDs. It’s for your better health.

References:
1 HIV/AIDS Surveillance Program Epidemiology Report 2012
2 Reportable Diseases and Conditions by Year, 2010-2014 County of San Diego, Health and  Human Services Agency, Public Health Services
3 US Census Bureau Quick Facts – Chula Vista and San Diego County, CA
4 Health & Human Services – South Region Center
5 CDC – The Lowdown on STD Prevention
6 Congenital Syphilis – CDC Fact Sheet
7 CDC Local Funded Agencies
8 Comprehensive Sexual Health Education Case Study: San Diego Unified School District – will work for Sex Ed
9 Sexually Transmitted Diseases in San Diego County 2014 Data Slides