YPSILANTI, Mich. – Rates of chlamydia and gonorrhea are down overall in Washtenaw County, but some groups are still disproportionately impacted, according to new data.
A report from the Washtenaw County Health Department found that Black, Hispanic, and Latino residents are still faced with higher rates of these sexually transmitted infections (STIs) than other groups.
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Black residents make up 43% of local cases of chlamydia and 46% of gonorrhea cases despite only being 12% of the county’s population.
By comparison, white residents only account for 35% of chlamydia cases but are a much larger population across the county.
Chlamydia and gonorrhea are common STIs spread through sexual contact without a condom, according to the CDC. Pregnant women can also spread the infections to babies during birth.
The CDC states that many of those infected do not often have symptoms, but if symptoms do occur, they can include discharge from sexual organs, burning while urinating, pain, bleeding, soreness, and swelling. Chlamydia can cause permanent damage to a woman’s reproductive system and make it very difficult to carry out a pregnancy.
Data shows that in 2023, the largest increase in reported cases for both STIs was seen in Latino residents, with rates of gonorrhea jumping 81% and chlamydia cases increasing by 12%. This equates to about 626.6 cases per 100,000 people who identify as Hispanic or Latino. The overall average in Washtenaw County was 444.3 cases per 100,000 people.
Area women made up 61% of reported chlamydia cases, with 55% of cases being reported by those ages 18-24. On the other hand, men reported 66% of gonorrhea cases in Washtenaw County.
Overall, chlamydia rates in Washtenaw County have declined by 6% between 2022 and 2023 and by 28% since 2019. Cases of gonorrhea went down by 17% between 2022 and 2023 and decreased by 42% since 2019.