South Carolina's STD Rates Are Some Of The Highest In The Country

LOS ANGELES - JUNE 17: Protesters holding banners that look like giant condoms call on pornography executive Larry Flynt to voluntarily adopt a 100% condom use policy in his sexually explicit films, during a demonstration by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation outside the Flynt Publications building on June 7, 2004 in Los Angeles, California. In April, the $9-billion to $14-billion southern California adult film industry began a 30-day voluntary filming moratorium after two actors tested positive to HIV at the Adult Industry Medical Health Care Foundation (AIM) which tests the adult entertainers for HIV every 30 days. Hustler magazine publisher, Larry Flynt, was at the center of the Constitution free speech battle depicted in the film "The People vs. Larry Flynt".

(Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)

Normally being in the top 5 of a list is a good thing. But unfortunately, this is one list South Carolina was included in. And one it probably is important to share. A new report by US News and World Report revealed that South Carolina is one of the 5 states with the highest STD rates. US News reports that "rates and cases of major sexually transmitted diseases in the U.S. have been increasing". The most recent data available from the CDC is from 2021 when more than 2.5 million cases of chlamydia, syphilis, and gonorrhea were reported. That is the data US News used for this study. Below are the statistics for South Carolina STD rates:

5. South Carolina STD Rates

Total STD Rate: 1,052 per 100,000
Chlamydia Rate: 702.7 per 100,000
Gonorrhea Rate: 309.2 per 100,000
Syphilis Rate (cumulative): 40.1 per 100,000

According to the CDC, those at highest risk for STDs are people under the age of 25, racial and ethnic minority groups, and gay or bisexual men. Let's make sure we are using protection and getting tests regularly SC. You don't want to contract any of these diseases or unknowingly pass them to someone you care about. The next time this data is studied I don't want to see us on this list! Do your part. Here are the top 10 states:

Mississippi
Louisiana
Alaska
South Carolina
South Dakota
Alabama
Georgia
Arkansas
New Mexico
North Carolina

It wasn't a great study for the Carolinas with NC also making the list. Overall the South is disproportionately represented on this list. The CDC has some great info for those of you who are being a little adventurous these days and need to protect yourself. You can find that information here. The states on this list are the states with the highest rates of sexually transmitted diseases per 100,000 population in 2021. This is according to available figures from the CDC and based on cumulative cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis reported by US News. You can read the full list and study here.

Health Local South Carolina

Melanie DayWriter

Melanie Day is a graduate of North Carolina State University. She has worked for Beasley since 2012 in a variety of behind-the-scenes roles in both digital and promotions. Melanie writes about a diverse range of topics some of her favorites include travel, restaurants, Taylor Swift, and college athletics. When not at work you'll find her at a country concert or NC State sporting event.