Sexually Transmitted Infections: Battle Between Prevention and Eradication [ID 1331]

INTRODUCTION: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are preventable through education and health care resources, yet high transmission rates persist. Equitable access to sexual health education and testing may reduce youth STI rates. Mapping STI testing sites with county demographics can reveal access and prevalence disparities. METHODS: Using a Python web scraping script, we identified STI testing sites on the CDC’s GetTested website (https://gettested.cdc.gov, 2023) from all 50 U.S. states, territories, and the District of Columbia. County-level health metrics from the 2023 County Health Rankings National Findings Report were analyzed using independent t-tests. RESULTS: A total of 8,774 testing sites were identified; only 44 (0.5%) were school-based clinics. Rural counties are less likely than nonrural counties to have testing sites (68.7% versus 50.8%, t=−16.34, P ≤.001). Counties with sites had higher mean high school completion rates (88.6% versus 87.0%, t=7.34, P <.001) and higher school funding adequacy ($850.0 versus −$252.7, t=6.22, P <.001). However, counties without sites had a higher proportion of residents under 18 years old (22.1 versus 21.8, t =−2.17, P =.030). CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS: Preventive care and education remain underutilized in STI detection and prevention. Despite the role of schools in disseminating sexual health information, school-based clinics were rare. Redistributing STI testing sites based on the mean population age could improve access for high-risk individuals under 18. Rural communities and counties with lower school funding or education attainment are disproportionately affected by limited access to STI services.