Free STD Testing in South Carolina

South Carolina STD Data

STD data & statistics in South Carolina

South Carolina is home to 5,024,448 residents, and as per a report from Innerbody.com based on the CDC STD surveillance report, there were 48,095 infections reported in 2018 in the state.

Although South Carolina doesn't have the highest overall STD rates in the country, it is still within the high-risk category as it reported the fourth-highest STD rates with 957 cases per 100,000 people, which is a startling number. This represents combined cases of syphilis, gonorrhea, HIV, and chlamydia.

Around 5,780 cases of STDs were reported in South Carolina's largest city and state capital, Columbia. The city has a population of 414,570 residents. This means the overall STD rate in Columbia was nearly 1,390 cases per 100,000 people. Out of all STDs, chlamydia was the most widespread in Columbia as data revealed 4,040 cases were reported in 2018.

In 2015, South Carolina was reportedly at number 7 among the fifty US states in chlamydial infections, with around 569 cases per 100,000 residents. In terms of gonorrheal infections, the state had the fourth-highest number of cases with 169.8 per 100,000. Similarly, the reported chlamydia cases among females were 2.4 times higher than males, with 795 and 328 cases per 100,000, respectively.

It is important to note that in 2011, the state had reported 4.7 cases of primary/secondary syphilis per 100,000, and the rate increased to 6.1 cases per 100,000 people. There were sixteen cases of congenital syphilis reported between 2011 and 2015, while the state ranked 18th in the country in terms of primary/secondary syphilis cases.

CDC STD surveillance data for the year 2016-17 indicates that chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis, the three main STDs, are continually inclining in South Carolina. It has now become the third-highest state in terms of the rising number of STDs cases in the country, revealed an analytical report by Health Testing Centers.

According to the CDC, the year 2017 set new records in STDs transmission across South Carolina, with chlamydia cases showing a 14.4% increase, making it the third-highest state in chlamydia infections after New Hampshire and Connecticut. Greenville, Charleston, and Myrtle Beach are other cities in South Carolina where the STD epidemic is causing havoc.

The most disturbing fact is that congenital syphilis cases are rising steadily in the state, which indicates that newborn babies are at an increased risk of contracting the infection. Similarly, the number of stillbirths is also rising due to the increase in congenital syphilis cases. There are reportedly 650 cases of syphilis per 100,000 people, which is way above New Hampshire's 330 and Connecticut's 496 cases. In 2017, the state ended up being the fifth most risky state for gonorrheal infections with 254 cases per 100,000, while the national average that year was 172.

Testing for HIV is Vital

Human Immunodeficiency Virus, commonly known as HIV, is one of the deadliest viruses ever known. The virus can stay silent for years, weaken the immunity of the affected individual, and show no apparent symptoms. HIV progresses to become AIDS during the last stage, where the human body has almost no immunity left, and viruses like the common flu can cause mortality.

Testing for HIV can save the patient from long-term complications and control the spread of the virus. HIV can be spread through sexual contact, body fluids, using infected needles, etc. Therefore, it is crucial for people living in HIV-populated areas to get tested to save themselves from further illness and prevent their partners and others from contracting the virus.

Early testing and diagnosis results in an early onset of treatment and can potentially enable a person to live everyday life. Many studies have indicated that HIV-related mortalities are three times higher in case of later diagnosis. A late diagnosis is generally referred to as the last stage of the virus when HIV has already progressed to AIDS.

Considering the CDC guidelines, it is recommended for every individual to get tested for HIV at least once in their lifetime. However, in localities where the HIV active cases are present in higher numbers, annual testing for the virus is recommended.

As per health officials, around 16 percent of people living with HIV in South Carolina are not aware of their HIV-positive status. The numbers of HIV cases from 2015 to 2018 have also increased significantly, making testing highly important for all state residents.

HIV Statistics in South Carolina

White Americans are present in the majority in the state, making up 68.8 % of the entire population, followed by Black Americans (27%). Hispanic and Latin (6%) and Asians (1.8%) are also a part of the population.

There was a slight increase in the number of newly diagnosed cases during the last few years. In 2015 as per the CDC reports, the total numbers of newly diagnosed cases in the state were 694. During the year 2018, 17,405 people lived with HIV in South Carolina, of which 715 people were newly diagnosed with the virus.

Age, Ethnicity, and Demographic Profile

The teen birth rate in South Carolina has declined by 70%, which is a significant decrement. The state noticed a peak in teen pregnancy rates during the early 1990s, and since then, there has been a 70% decrease. But, young adults are still at substantial risk for getting an STD.

In 2018, South Carolina ranked the fourth highest in the US for chlamydial infections and the third-highest for gonorrheal infections among all age groups. Adolescents, which includes youth aged between 15 and 24, accounted for a staggering 67% of all chlamydia infections in South Carolina and 53% of all gonorrhea cases reported in the state. This is why the state government and health department must ensure teens and adults have access to comprehensive STD testing and treatment facilities. In 2018, there were 1,306 congenital syphilis cases, which is 185% higher than the rates reported by CDC in 2014.

The 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance survey revealed that 51% of sexually active high schoolers in South Carolina reported not using a condom. This highlights the significance of providing comprehensive sexual education, including guidelines on the appropriate use of contraception and condoms among sexually active teenagers.

According to the South Carolina department of health and environmental control (SCDHEC), African-Americans reported the highest number of chlamydia cases, with 45% in 2017, whites with 18%, and 2% for Hispanics. The 20 to 24 age group was found to be the most at-risk in terms of chlamydia infections in South Carolina. A similar trend was noted in gonorrheal infections as the highest number of cases was reported among African-Americans with 53%, followed by whites with 16%, and Hispanics had 1% cases. The rate of syphilis cases was again the highest among blacks with 62%, whites were the second most affected race with 30%, while Hispanics ranked third with 5% cases in 2017.

HIV-Specific Data

According to the AIDSvu’s HIV statistics report, in 2018, 17,405 people lived with HIV in South Carolina, of which 715 people were diagnosed during the same year. The rate of people living with HIV per 100,000 population in the year 2018 was 406. According to HIV/AIDS report 2018, 71 % of males and 29 % females were affected by the virus.

Black Americans make up 27% of the entire population, but they remain the biggest ethnic groups affected by HIV. 67.8% of the Black Americans, 23.5% of the White Americans, and 5.5 % of the Hispanic population made up the entire HIV positive population.

As per the same report, HIV was contracted more by individuals belonging to the age group 55 years and above. 27.7% of people living with HIV were 45 to 54 years, while 17.9% belonged to 25 to 34 years. Adolescents and young adults, 13 to 24 years of age, made 20.7% of the HIV-positive population.

The report also indicates that male patients' primary mode of transmission is gay or male-to-male sexual contact. 7.6% of the total reported cases were due to injection or drug use, while 14.9% of the male patients contracted the virus due to heterosexual contact. In females mode of transmission was mainly due to heterosexual contact (83%) and drug & injection use (14.5%).

HIV-related mortalities in the state of South Carolina during the year 2018 were 206. Of the total mortalities, 66% were males, while 34% were females. Similarly, as Black Americans were disproportionately affected by the virus, the number of mortalities of Black Americans was 65.5%, while White Americans made up 24.3% of the total number of mortalities.

Government Initiatives

The uptick in STD cases in South Carolina is mainly due to the sudden decrease in state funding for sexual health organizations and clinics. The Department of Health and Environmental Control, which is responsible for providing publicly-funded clinics across the state, offers STD screening/treatment facilities. However, the agency is suffering because of the tapered federal funding in the past few years. a DHEC spokesperson stated that this drop in federal funding is concerning. It further intensifies other issues like increasing disease burden, increasing population, increasing cost of living, and increasing disease control staff salaries. Therefore, these resources must receive sufficient funding. If access to these resources is restricted, the state won't provide access to comprehensive testing and treatment, and the risk of rising STDs cases will not be reduced.

DHEC participated in CDC's National STD Awareness Week, and its press release stated that it is a crucial step in the right direction.

"STDs are preventable, and an important step in prevention is getting tested. With the number of certain types of STDs rising annually in South Carolina and across the nation, we can't do enough to educate each other about the importance of STD safety, including prevention and treatment, which is what National STD Awareness Week is all about," said Ali Mansaray, the director of DHEC's STD, HIV, and Viral Hepatitis Division.

Initiatives to Prevent HIV in South Carolina

South Carolina. Department of Health and Environmental Control, SCDHEC, has several programs designed specifically for low-income people living with HIV. These programs ensure the provision of essential medications and support services for the patients and their families.

SCDHEC has formulated a 34 voting member body called the HIV Planning Council. It is mandatory for the council to have at least seven members to be persons with positive HIV status. The primary mission of the planning council is to develop state-wide prevention as well as care plans.

South Carolina AIDS Drug Assistance Program ADAP is yet another state initiative to facilitate the HIV-positive patients belonging to low-income groups who cannot afford the medication and treatment costs. The program is further split into three parts known as the Direct Drug Dispensing program, Insurance Assistance Program, and Medicare Assistance Program. The kind of service received depends on the type of program the patient is enrolled in.

Health Resources and Service Administration, HRSA's program known as Ryan White HIV/AIDS program has been successfully operational in almost all country states for the last thirty years. Ryan White HIV/AIDS program is a federal government-funded project that provides funds to state bodies to provide medication, treatment, and other critical services to people living with HIV. State-based organizations use these funds to ensure outpatient, medication, early intervention, and health insurance services to those in need. This program also funds initiatives like food banks, transportation to and from the health cue centers, financial assistance programs, and various mental health services for HIV patients.