Infographic 10.2: STIs Around the World

Text under the title “STIs around the world” reads “Should you be concerned about sexually transmitted infections (STIs)? Every year in the U.S., new STI cases number 20 million. Half of these new infections occur among people aged 15 to 24 (CDC, 2013). The graph at right shows estimated numbers of people living with selected STIs in the Americas. The bacterial STIs shown here in teal are curable, but can have serious health consequences if left untreated. Viral STIs, shown in red, have no cures. The map below provides estimated numbers for HIV worldwide.” Beside the text is the graph, with the following values. Syphilis is 2,800,000. HIV is 2,800,000. Gonorrhea is 11,000,000. Chlamydia is 26,500,000. HPY (U.S. only) is 79,000,000. Herpes is 83,500,000. HIV, HPV, and Herpes are viral, and Syphilis, Gonorrhea, and chlamydia are bacterial. Values in the map are as follows. North, South, and Central America has 2,800,000 cases of HIV. Western and central Europe has 900,000 cases. The middle east and North Africa has 300,000 cases. East Asia has 830,000 cases. Eastern Europe and central Asia has 1,400,000. South and Southeast Asia has 4,000,000 cases. Sub-saharan Africa has 23,500,000 cases. Underneath the map are five text graphics, which read as follows. 1. “STIs can have serious implications, especially for young women.” 2. “Some people with STIs are asymptomatic. Many infections are never diagnosed.” 3. “Serious health consequences can be avoided if curable STIs are treated in time. The CDC recommends screening for chlamydia and other STIs depending on risk factors.” 4. “HIV will not show up on blood tests for up to 6 months after infection. Protected sex is important even if a recent test showed a negative result.” 5. “STIs are preventable. You can lower your risk by communicating with your partner.”