Hollister
– While the number of reported cases of sexually transmitted
diseases has increased over the years in San Benito County, local
health officials believe the local rates are similar to other
counties across the state.
Hollister – While the number of reported cases of sexually transmitted diseases has increased over the years in San Benito County, local health officials believe the local rates are similar to other counties across the state.
“The trend is that they’ve been increasing and it’s happening across the state,” said Public Health Nurse Kathy Boulware. “When you look at population, we’re at the same rates as everybody else.”
Since 2001, the number of the reported cases of gonorrhea and chlamydia have increased dramatically. In 2001, three cases of gonorrhea were reported compared to 54 in 2005, according to statistics from the San Benito County Health and Human Services Agency. That’s an increase of 170 percent. Chlamydia has jumped 29 percent from 84 reported cases in 2001 to 109 last year. Rates for both STDs are lower than the statewide average in 2004, the last year for which statistics are available. The chlamydia rate for San Benito County is 265 people per 100,000 people compared to 334 statewide. The county’s gonorrhea rate of 80.2 per 100,000 people is two points below the state rate of 82.7, according the California Department of Health.
For every infection health officials become aware of, many more cases go unreported, Boulware said.
“For every one case that’s reported, there is another one out there,” she said.
Boulware said the keys to preventing STDs are safe sex, frequent testing and education.
Statistics show significantly higher numbers of both chlamydia and gonorrhea in residents under 30. For example, 29 percent of 162 reported cases of chlamydia in 2004 occurred in the 15-19 age group.
Boulware believes that is the result of lax attitudes toward sex.
“Kids that age aren’t having protected sex,” she said. “And a lot of time it’s about a casual attitude toward sex.”
Boulware said the most common excuses she hears for not having protected sex are “my boyfriend won’t use one” and “it won’t happen to me.”
“It’s definitely not an access problem,” Boulware said. “All you have to do is ask.”
The Health and Human Services Agency gives out more than 3,000 free condoms each year, she said.
“My best advice is if your young, wait,” she said. “But if you’re going to do it, be prepared and use protection.”
But casual attitudes might not be the only factor for high STDs rates in those under 30.
“Young people have higher libidos, more pressure and can be more promiscuous,” said Anita Waterman, a nurse with Hazel Hawkins Hospital.
Gonorrhea and chlamydia rates for Hispanics are nearly twice as high for whites or non-Hispanics, according to statistics. In 2004, chlamydia rates for Hispanic females was 2.5 times higher than for non-Hispanic females. Poverty could be one reason for the higher rates, said Katie Desmond, public affairs director for Planned Parenthood Marmonte.
“In some parts of San Benito and Santa Clara Counties there are pockets of poverty,” she said. “Some people have less access to education and condoms.”
Desmond also said that migrant workers are often afraid to seek treatment for STDs because of concerns about their immigration status. However, she said Planned Parenthood did not report illegal immigrants to the authorities.
Waterman recommends women get tested for STDs once a year and whenever they notice symptoms or change sexual partners. Men should get tested if they notice symptoms or change partners, she said. Waterman said even those who are symptom-free should get tested because not all STDs have easily identifiable signs.
Free, government-funded STD testing is unavailable in San Benito County, Boulware said. However, Planned Parenthood does offer a sliding scale for testing based on income. All tests cost less than $50, Desmond said. Planned Parenthood has two clinics in Hollister, but neither are full-service facilities. Family Resource Center, at 321 San Felipe Road, is open Wednesdays from 5:30-7:30pm and Thursday from 2-5pm. Monterey Plaza Medical, at 910 Monterey Street, is open Thursdays from 5:30-7:30pm.
Brett Rowland covers public safety for the Free Lance. He can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 330 or [email protected].
