Native American women have the highest incidents of syphilis and gonorrhea!
(OKIT) In states with AI/AN populations over
20,000, gonnorhea and syphilis rates are twice as high as among other ethnic
groups.
(Morbidity
and Mortality Weekly Report)
It
is because of factors such as drugs, behavior, social, and economic that
Native women are at higher risk then others.
Syphilis
WHAT IS SYPHILIS?
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease (STD), once responsible for devastating epidemics. It is caused by a bacterium called Treponema pallidum. Of increasing concern is the fact that syphilis increases by 3- to 5-fold the risk of transmitting and acquiring HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), the virus that causes AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).
HOW IS SYPHILIS TRANSMITTED?
The syphilis bacterium is very fragile, and the infection is almost always transmitted by sexual contact with an infected person. The bacterium spreads from the initial ulcer (sore) of an infected person to the skin or mucous membranes (linings) of the genital area, mouth, or anus of an uninfected sexual partner. It also can pass through broken skin on other parts of the body. (CDC gov)
Gonorrhea
WHAT IS
GONORRHEA?
Gonorrhea is caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae, a bacterium that can grow and
multiply easily in
mucous membranes of the body. Gonorrhea bacteria can grow in the warm, moist
areas of the
reproductive tract, including the cervix (opening to the womb), uterus (womb),
and fallopian
tubes (egg canals) in women, and in the urethra (urine canal) in women and men.
The bacteria
can also grow in the mouth, throat, and anus.
HOW IS GONORRHEA
TRANSMITTED?
Gonorrhea is spread through sexual contact (vaginal, oral, or anal). This
includes penis-to-
vagina, penis-to-mouth, penis-to-anus, mouth-to-vagina, and mouth-to-anus
contact.
Ejaculation does not have to occur for gonorrhea to be transmitted or acquired.
Gonorrhea can
also be spread from mother to child during birth.
Programs
Again, American Indian do not have enough support for cases that are not significant as other matters in the community. Therefore programs for Syphilis, Gonorrhea, and other STD have been group together with HIV.