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"In recent years, the agency reports, more than half of local STD programs have experienced budget cuts that led to clinic closures, as well as reduced screenin

by guelo 7y ago

"In recent years, the agency reports, more than half of local STD programs have experienced budget cuts that led to clinic closures, as well as reduced screening and patient follow-up. "Federal spending has also been curtailed." “In the federal government, there is one dedicated STD funding line, and that is the line item in the appropriation bill funding the division of STD prevention at the CDC,” said David Harvey, executive director of the National Coalition of STD Directors. “That appropriation has been whittled away over the last 18 years.”

dev_dull 7y ago
Blaming this on budget cuts is absurd. There didn't even use to be something such as an "STD clinic", let alone easy access. In many states STD testing is totally free and anonymous. How long has that been around? Besides, have you seen sex education in schools these days? Let's just say it's... comprehensive. Compare that to the 70s, 80s, 90s, ANY other time. Children today go into sexual relationships with way more information that any previous generation.
- johnsimer 7y ago
  not all schools, and not even all public schools, especially in the southeast
- guelo 7y ago
  I find it more absurd to think that closing clinics has no effect on the health outcomes of the affected communities.
UglyToad 7y ago
Yours is one of the few reasonable responses so far (an influx of 'people are lobsters' believers at the moment maybe). This also correlates with what has happened here in England. Because public health/sexual health is funded by councils at the local level and not the NHS it has borne the brunt of cuts to council budgets. As a result we've seen decreased rates of testing and increased rates of infection [0]. While there's a case to be made that Tinder et al. have something to do with it it seems like the funding view is one with actual data behind it rather than 'all the girls are sleeping with Chads and I'm forever alone' finger pointing. [0]: https://www.bashh.org/news/news/sexual-health-experts-highlight-grave-concerns-over-syphilis-and-gonorrhoea-rates-and-call-for-urgent-implementation-of-national-strategy-and-proper-service-funding/ https://www.bashh.org/news/news/sexual-health-experts-highli...

by guelo 7y ago

dev_dull 7y ago

Blaming this on budget cuts is absurd. There didn't even use to be something such as an "STD clinic", let alone easy access. In many states STD testing is totally free and anonymous. How long has that been around? Besides, have you seen sex education in schools these days? Let's just say it's... comprehensive. Compare that to the 70s, 80s, 90s, ANY other time. Children today go into sexual relationships with way more information that any previous generation.

johnsimer 7y ago
not all schools, and not even all public schools, especially in the southeast
guelo 7y ago
I find it more absurd to think that closing clinics has no effect on the health outcomes of the affected communities.

UglyToad 7y ago

Yours is one of the few reasonable responses so far (an influx of 'people are lobsters' believers at the moment maybe). This also correlates with what has happened here in England. Because public health/sexual health is funded by councils at the local level and not the NHS it has borne the brunt of cuts to council budgets. As a result we've seen decreased rates of testing and increased rates of infection [0]. While there's a case to be made that Tinder et al. have something to do with it it seems like the funding view is one with actual data behind it rather than 'all the girls are sleeping with Chads and I'm forever alone' finger pointing. [0]: https://www.bashh.org/news/news/sexual-health-experts-highlight-grave-concerns-over-syphilis-and-gonorrhoea-rates-and-call-for-urgent-implementation-of-national-strategy-and-proper-service-funding/ https://www.bashh.org/news/news/sexual-health-experts-highli...