HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 7166B INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7166
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council April 7, 1987
Subject: SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASE/AIDS
gars
The Sexually Transmitted Disease Program is currently staffed
by 4 Nurse Clinicians; 5 Epidemiology Specialists (1 AIDS funded);
1 AIDS Education Specialist and 3.5 Clerks. The City funds the
4 Nurse Clinicians and 2.5 Clerks. In 1986, 17,003 clinic visits
were recorded. AIDS testing and counseling accounted for 941
of these visits.
s
In 1986, 358 cases of infectious (lesion) syphilis were
recorded. Females accounted for 50% of these cases. Six of these
females delivered babies with congenital syphilis, the highest
number ever recorded for Tarrant County.
A comparison of infectious syphilis rates can be drawn
between Fort Worth and other cities and Fort Worth and the nation.
In 1985, Fort Worth ranked #14 out of 62 U.S. cities compared
for infectious syphilis rates. In 1986, the case rate for
infectious syphilis in Fort Worth/Tarrant County was 33.4
cases/100,000, as compared to the 1990 United States goal of 7
cases/100,000.
A graph showing the case rate for infectious syphilis in
Fort Worth/Tarrant County from 1976 - 1986 is shown below.
FORT WORTH-TARRANT COUNTY
Infectious Syphilis
40-
34.6
0
0
20-
VA
National goal for 1990:
7 cases/ 100,000
1076 1977 1978 1979 1200 1981 19" 1933 1984 1985 1806
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. Z�p,.2
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council April 7, 1987
re XP Subject: SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASE/AIDS
'81S
The increasing role of prostitution in the spread of syphilis
is shown in these demographic shifts which have occured since
1980:
infectious syphilis in Whites rose 329%
infectious syphilis in Hispanics rose 352%
infectious syphilis in Blacks decreased 18%
Gonorrhea
Fort Worth/Tarrant County recorded 4,637 cases of gonorrhea
in 1986. Females accounted for one-third of these cases. Females
accounted for an even higher percentage of the caseload in these
age groups: 78% of the caseload were female in the 10-14 year
olds whereas 53% of the caseload were female in the 15-19 year
olds. Gonorrhea is more serious for females, causing more
complications, sterility and problem pregnancies. Younger women
experience more serious consequences because their reproductive
systems are more vulnerable to permanent damage.
There were 226 cases of complicated pelvic inflammatory
disease caused by gonorrhea in 1986. The 1986 Fort Worth/Tarrant
County case rate for gonorrhea was 434 cases/100,000; the 1990
U.S. National goal is 280 cases/100,000.
AIDS
Since 1982, Fort Worth/Tarrant County has recorded 82 cases
of AIDS. The projected number of AIDS cases for Fort Worth/Tarrant
County in 1991 is 400. Known cases of AIDS represent only a small
portion of the problem. Probably 5 to 10 times as many persons
appear healthy but are in fact infected with the virus and are
capable of spreading it to others. Conservative estimates suggest
20-40% of these infected persons will develop AIDS. Some
researchers suggest that eventually all infected persons may
succumb.
The only tool available to address the AIDS issue is
education. A sustained, coordinated effort directed toward specific
risk groups and the general public is the key to halting the spread
of the AIDS virus in our community. Educational efforts should
incorporate a two pronged approach:
1) testing and counseling
2) community outreach
1) Currently, the testing and counseling activities have
increased 400%, from 50/month in 1986 to 200+/month this year.
Positivity rates (the number of people who test positive out of
the total number of people tested) vary from 1% to 24% in different
L ISSUED 13Y THE CITY MANAGER -- FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No.. 716615 p•3
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council April 7, 1987
Subject: SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASE/AIDS
risk groups. The current program provides test results and
counseling to prevent the spread of the AIDS virus on an individual
basis.
2. The outreach program provides educational inservices
and presentations to teachers and school nurses, health
professionals, police, high risk groups, community organizations,
etc.
We are unable to meet the increased demand in the community
for services in either testing and counseling or outreach
activities.
Currently there is a 3 week waiting period for testing
of high risk persons. Low risk persons are turned away. Daily,
25 phone inquiries are received from concerned citizens. Often
no staff are available to answer questions. Resources are not
available to provide the critically needed high risk prenatal
education programs, juvenile education programs, drug abuse risk
reduction programs and other educational activities directed toward
target populations, as well as general educational program requests
by many community groups.
The number of AIDS cases/deaths since 1982 in Fort Worth/Tar-
rant County is shown below.
TARRANT COUNTY AIDS CASES
40 1982 TO VARCH 1. 1987 rZ1q
U Cl,C.ES
VEATvd
SN
M \N,
Z
10
op",1 0 _1_171 E2
Inz 1993 1564 1995 1246 1957
- ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER - FORT WORTH, TEXAS