Does a bad economy mean more STDs?

A recent article published by the Dayton Daily News reported that some health officials think the economic recession may be to blame for an increase in the prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) that has been noted in Ohio.

"The more poverty increases, the more divorce rates increase, the more bad things happen on a social level and that certainly would contribute to the transmission of STDs and other diseases as well," said Donald Brannen, epidemiologist at the Greene County Combined Health District, quoted by the news source.

One problem that health experts highlighted was that a recession may lead to insufficient education, which includes information about STDs.

Jim Gross, the health commissioner of Montgomery County, told the news provider that spreading awareness of these infections is one of the primary methods used to reduce the prevalence of the diseases.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are 19 million new cases of STDs reported each year in the U.S. The organization recommends consistent and correct condom use as one of the best ways for sexually active individuals to protect themselves from contracting one of these infections.