Public Health England’s stats on sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in England for 2018 show that Black people continue to be disproportionately affected by poor sexual health.
What is particularly of interest to us is that in a recent online health survey we ran amongst Black men in the in the UK, only 15% said they were aware of STIs significantly affect Black people.
In this post we outline some of the key findings from Public Health England.
Diagnosis Rate
We, people of Black ethnicity, face the highest population rates of STI diagnoses. This is measured as the number of people diagnosed with an STI per 100,000 population.
In 2019, our rate of diagnosis was 2522.8 per 100,000 people to the national average of 832.1 per 100,000 people. Overall 9.9% of new diagnoses were amongst people of Black ethnicity. This clearly is something that needs to be addressed urgently.
Chlamydia
In 2019, we had the highest diagnosis rate for chlamydia at 1188.6 per 100,000 people compared to the national average of 407.6 per 100,000 people. Overall, 9.6% of all chlamydia diagnoses were amongst people of Black ethnicity.
Chlamydia can cause serious health complications if left untreated. Find out more about chlamydia on the NHS website.
Gonorrhoea
We also had the highest diagnosis rate for gonorrhoea at 436.6 per 100,000 people compared to the national average of 126 per 100,000 people. 11.4% of all gonorrhoea diagnoses were amongst people of Black ethnicity.
Find out more about gonorrhoea at the NHS website.
Syphilis
We had the 3rd highest rates for syphilis after people of ‘Other’ and Mixed ethnicities. Our rate was 23 per 100,000 people compared to the national average of 14.2 per 100,00 people. 5.3% of all syphilis diagnoses were among people of Black ethnicity.
Find out more about syphilis on the NHS website.
Herpes
We had the 2nd highest rate of diagnosis, after people of Mixed ethnicities, for herpes at 125.1 per 100,000 people compared to the national average of 61.4 per 100,000 people. 6.7% of all herpes diagnoses were amongst people of Black ethnicity.
find out more about herpes from the NHS website.
Genital Warts
We had the 2nd highest diagnosis rate for genital warts after people of Mixed ethnicities. Our rate was 139.3 per 100,000 people compared to the national average of 91.1 per 100,000 people. 5% of all diagnoses were amongst people of Black ethnicity.
Find out more about genital warts at the NHS websites.
So what next?
We need to have conversations on sexual health with as much vigour as we’ve had on the disparities around COVID-19. Not everyone in our communities is aware of these sexual health disparities and more work needs to be done on why this is the case.
We need action now!
