Description: This indicator provides information about the congenital syphilis infection rate (diagnosed infections per 100,000 live births). Data are only available for Los Angeles County overall, Service Planning Areas, and Supervisorial Districts.In recent years, Los Angeles County has experienced a steady increase in the rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including congenital syphilis, a trend that has also been seen nationally. Congenital syphilis is a serious and often life-threatening condition that can develop in infants whose mothers are not fully treated for syphilis. As with other STIs, congenital syphilis rates are much higher in some communities than in others, with low-income communities and communities of color most severely impacted. Cities, community organizations, faith-based institutions, and businesses can play an important role in supporting efforts to prevent these infections. For example, they can help promote sexual health education campaigns, support condom distribution programs, and foster efforts to reduce stigmatization of and discrimination against groups most at risk of these infections. In addition, community providers can help by assisting at-risk groups in accessing prevention programs, testing, and treatment services, including partner notification and treatment.For more information about the Community Health Profiles Data Initiative, please see the initiative homepage.
Copyright Text: Indicator generated by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. Data for calculating this indicator came from the following sources: [1] Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance System, 2021; [2] the Los Angeles County Annual Birth Files 2021, assembled from California Department of Public Health Vital Records Data and prepared by Office of Health Assessment and Epidemiology in the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.