Sexually transmitted diseases: a neglected public health priority.
Sexually transmitted diseases remain uncontrolled although millions of cases occur annually in the United States. The advent of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), which is also a sexually transmitted disease, has not altered this situation. The major portion of federal funding for sexually transmitted diseases is allocated to a search for an AIDS vaccine or cure. State health department funding for sexually transmitted diseases, although only a small fraction of the $1.3 billion AIDS research budget of the National Institutes of Health, is largely consumed by AIDS. A single adequately funded sexually transmitted disease control program that applies well-established public health principles for the control of communicable diseases would make sense. However, a consensus to develop and support such a program does not exist in the United States.
Yankauer
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Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Worcester 01655-0309.
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D015995:Prevalence; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013219:State Government; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology