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Sexual Health news - Sexual Health and Behavior
U.S. has highest STD rates among developed countries
By Michael Davies, MD
"According to The New York Times, a new study has found that Americans aren't faring well when it comes to quality of health and life expectancy in comparison with the rest of the developed world.
While car accidents, substance abuse and gun violence were significant factors, the study also found that American youth have the highest rates of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among wealthy nations. The U.S. also ranked highest in teen pregnancies.
The study was produced by a team of researchers at the Institute of Medicine and the National Research Council, and it is the first of it's kind to account for the health and longevity of Americans from all age groups - not just older citizens, as past studies have done. The scientists compared U.S. health statistics to 16 other industrialized nations, including Canada, Japan, Spain, Germany, Australia and France.
Results indicated that deaths before age 50 made up two-thirds of the difference in life expectancy for men in the U.S. and the rest of the countries examined and one-third for women. In fact, U.S. men and women ranked last and second-to-last respectively for life expectancy.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Americans between ages 15 and 24 are diagnosed with nearly 50 percent of all new STDs in the nation in a 2009-2010 study, though young people only make up a quarter of the national population.STD rates in the U.S. have also been increasing. Chlamydia, the most common STD, increased by 2.8 percent for people ages 15 through 19 and 7.5 percent for people 20 through 24. Gonorrhea is the second most common STD, which increased by 1.4 percent and 4.9 percent among the same respective demographics."
While car accidents, substance abuse and gun violence were significant factors, the study also found that American youth have the highest rates of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among wealthy nations. The U.S. also ranked highest in teen pregnancies.
The study was produced by a team of researchers at the Institute of Medicine and the National Research Council, and it is the first of it's kind to account for the health and longevity of Americans from all age groups - not just older citizens, as past studies have done. The scientists compared U.S. health statistics to 16 other industrialized nations, including Canada, Japan, Spain, Germany, Australia and France.
Results indicated that deaths before age 50 made up two-thirds of the difference in life expectancy for men in the U.S. and the rest of the countries examined and one-third for women. In fact, U.S. men and women ranked last and second-to-last respectively for life expectancy.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Americans between ages 15 and 24 are diagnosed with nearly 50 percent of all new STDs in the nation in a 2009-2010 study, though young people only make up a quarter of the national population.STD rates in the U.S. have also been increasing. Chlamydia, the most common STD, increased by 2.8 percent for people ages 15 through 19 and 7.5 percent for people 20 through 24. Gonorrhea is the second most common STD, which increased by 1.4 percent and 4.9 percent among the same respective demographics."
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