Ethnic disparities in prevalence and screening rates of sexually transmitted infections.

Abstract

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) represent a major global health concern, with certain ethnic communities being disproportionately affected. This review summarizes recent evidence of ethnic disparities in STI prevalence and screening rates, with most data originating from the United States. The findings confirm the fact that certain ethnic communities such as Black and Hispanic display higher prevalence rates of STIs. Yet the data on screening behavior reveal a striking contradiction. While some studies report lower testing rates among these communities, others demonstrate that Black and Hispanic individuals reported the highest testing engagement compared to other ethnic groups. If testing behavior alone explained these disparities, a clearer correlation between screening and infection rates would be expected. Instead, that paradox might suggest a complex interplay with additional factors included in this review such as, for example, institutional racism, socioeconomic inequalities, differences in sexual and healthcare-seeking behavior, traumatic experiences, and limited access to healthcare. In conclusion, given the global burden caused by STIs, the ongoing health disparities in many parts of the world indicate an urgent need for further investigations into the mechanisms behind these disparities and to identify factors that yet may have been overlooked.