ABOUT US
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are a significant public health problem in the United States and remain largely unrecognized as a serious public health threat. Each year there are an estimated 19 million new STD infections. STDs cause harmful and often irreversible complications, including chronic pelvic pain, infertility, cancer, poor pregnancy and fetal outcomes, and even death. They are also expensive to society as a whole, with direct medical costs as high as $15.5 billion in a single year.

Although widespread across the U.S. in all populations, the STD epidemic disproportionately affects certain racial and ethnic groups. Such disparities in STD rates are complex to understand, but may be rooted in a number of social factors such as poverty, inadequate access to health care, lack of education, social inequality, and cultural influences. One group adversely affected by STDs is the American Indian and Alaskan Native (AI/AN) population.

Since 1994, CDC has collaborated with the IHS Division of Epidemiology and Disease Prevention by providing staff, funds, and technical assistance to address the STD prevention needs of AI/AN. This relationship has been and continues to be critical for the development of STD prevention capacity in Indian Country. In recent years, the staff and budget of the IHS National STD Program have grown dramatically. Today, the program is staffed by three CDC assignees, one IHS administrative staff, and two contractors.