Omaha, Nebraska’s largest city, is at the crossroads of America and offers a bounty of plenty to see and do, like taking a walk in Freedom Park or discovering something new at the Joslyn Art Museum. Omaha and the greater Douglas County area is home to 500,000 residents,1 and the rate of STDs in this mid-sized Midwestern metropolis. Omaha adopts traditional values when it comes to religion and premarital sex, but that still does not deter a rise of sexually transmitted disease in among teens in the area, according to reports from the Douglas County Health Department.2
Knowing the risks of sexually transmitted diseases and the importance of getting tested is essential to improving the sexual health of the Omaha and the greater Douglas County area. It can be intimidating to visit a doctor’s office to request STD testing, or you might feel unsure about a free clinic. Simplify the process by getting to know more about STDtest.com.
Situated in the heartland of America, the city of Omaha has witnessed to a variety of historical happenings over the past two centuries, one such moment in history commemorated by the Lewis and Clark Landing. From 2014 to 2015, the rates of chlamydia and gonorrhea have been on the rise. As the largest metropolitan area in the state, it’s important for Omaha to lead the way in prevention and testing to lead the way for the rest of the smaller Nebraskan communities.
Getting tested for STDs should be fast, affordable and confidential. STDtest.com offers a simple solution that starts with answering a brief questions online to determine a panel of doctor-recommended tests, tailored to your symptoms and sexual health history. If you have questions, our dedicated team of Care Advisors is available to guide you through the process, and are available 7 days a week from 6 am – 10 pm, CT. Once you receive your recommended tests, you can choose a lab location from our network of thousands most convenient for you, or you can select In-Home Collection if available in your area. Then, you’ll be notified of your results usually within three business days or less. If not sure about the best option for you, let our service help you breathe easier. Additionally, the name “STD Test” will never show up on your bank statement or in your inbox. Your privacy is our top priority.
Of the various STDs on the rise in Omaha and Douglas County, the disease with the highest infection rate in 2015 was chlamydia, affecting 645.6 people per 100,000. This is an increase from the previous year’s rate of 624/100,000. In data provided ranging from 2010-2015, the lowest rate of chlamydia infection occurred in 2010, with a reported 545.1 cases per 100,000. As the population increased, however, it is also likely that the rate of infection increased as well in Omaha and Douglas County. According to reports published by the Douglas County Health Department, chlamydia is by far the most commonly reported sexually transmitted disease in the area, with 3,507 new infections reported in 2015, up from 3,390 in 2014.2
The impact of gonorrhea in Omaha is represented by fewer reported numbers than chlamydia, but is still prevalent. Many STDS, including both chlamydia and gonorrhea, do not present with any symptoms, making it possible for anyone carrying the infection to be unaware of passing it on to their partner or partners. The 2015 rate of gonorrhea in Douglas County rose to 199/100,000 from a rate of 176.9/100,000 the year before. Of the 2010-2015 data set, the year exhibiting the lowest rate of gonorrhea infection was 2013, reporting 155 infections per 100,000 residents. In 2015, 1,081 new infections were reported compared to 961 in 2014.2
In any discussion of sexually transmitted diseases, discussing the state of HIV/AIDS in the reporting area is revealing. In Omaha and Douglas County, 61 new cases of HIV were reported in 2014, and 23 new diagnoses of AIDS. In total, 2,431 individuals were reportedly living with HIV/AIDS in the county.3
Sexual education in Omaha public schools and across the state of Nebraska can be a policy fraught with contention. While HIV/AIDS instruction is mandated by the state, sexual education in all public schools is not. Omaha school districts offer Human Growth and Development curriculum in their district, a program focusing on stressing abstinence and incorporating lessons on pregnancy prevention and sexually transmitted diseases. The next review of the Human Growth and Development lesson planning by selected parent committee leaders and staff will occur in winter 2016. The curriculum strongly stresses that parents should be the primary points of contact for their children about matters pertaining to sexual education and should be prepared to discuss materials presented at school.4
In 2015, the Nebraska legislature proposed a bill to collect funding for a study that would assess the strength of a link between risky behavior and academic achievement, furthermore making a case for an integration of more comprehensive sexual education in all state public schools. The bill, Legislative Resolution 334, did not pass.5 In a conflict of values and high rates of teen STDs and pregnancy, the correct facts about STD risks and testing are integral to a healthier future for the adolescents and young adults of Omaha and the greater Douglas County area.
The demographic group most affected by sexually transmitted diseases in Omaha are young adults and adolescents, age 15-24. Of the 3,507 new chlamydia infections reported in 2015, 60.7% were attributed to this age group. Gonorrhea infections saw similar statistical reporting, with 49.1% of new infections reported by 15-24 year olds as well. The age group demographics reported for people living with HIV/AIDS skews a little higher, according to the Nebraska Health and Human Services Surveillance Report. Of all the HIV cases diagnosed through 2014, 67.5% of infections are reported by members of the 25-44 age group.2&3
The racial/ethnic group that sees the highest reports of chlamydia infections in Omaha and Douglas County was the white population, accounting for 38% of all new reported chlamydia infections, followed closely behind by African Americans with 36.8%. Regarding gonorrhea, 55.9% of infections in 2015 were reported by the African American population, followed by the white, not-Hispanic group with 29.5%. Of all of the HIV cases reported across the state of Nebraska, the most commonly affected racial/ethnic group is the white, non-Hispanic population with 59.5% of all reported infections.2&3
One of the best ways to slow the spread of these common diseases amongst these varied demographic populations is to get tested. There are free clinic options available, in addition to requesting STD tests from the doctor’s office. STDtest.com offers the same tests at an affordable price, while also being tailored to your schedule.
Don’t waste time worrying about an unknown STD status. Once you get started with STDtest.com, you’ll have plenty of time left to catch up with family and friends at the Lauritzen Gardens or the Heartland of America Park. Getting started is simple. By answering a few brief questions about your sexual history and symptoms, you’ll receive a doctor-recommended panel of tests. Once you’ve placed a test order, you’ll choose a testing option. You can choose the lab nearest you from a nationwide network of thousands for a brief thirty minute visit to collect your test samples. 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.
Usually within three business days or less, you’ll be notified of your results. Our medical team is available to answer any follow up questions, discuss your diagnosis or prescribe treatment if appropriate and allowed by state law. If you’re at risk, if you know someone who is, get tested and urge them to do the same. It’s for your better health.