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livetotravel

07/27/2007
The love bug: STDs skyrocket in Brooklyn - Nabes rank number one in chlamydia, gonorrhea
By Stephen Witt

Broader Crown Heights, including pockets of Flatbush and Prospect Heights, has the dubious distinction of being number one of 44 neighborhoods citywide in two categories of sexually transmitted diseases.

The neighborhood rankings of chlamydia and gonorrhea cases in 2006 were included in a recent Department of Health and Hygiene report that found cases of syphilis have more than doubled citywide in the first quarter of 2007.

The neighborhoods were defined by the United Hospital Fund and were specified by zip codes, which included some neighborhoods in a larger subsection.

According to the report, Crown Heights had 861 chlamydia infections for females between the ages of 20-24 – the most of any other neighborhoods surveyed.

Conversely, the neighborhood had the fourth highest number of chlamydia cases for men between 20 and 24 with 279 cases reported.

For women between 15 and 19, the neighborhood ranked sixth citywide with 783 cases of chlamydia while men in the same age group also ranked sixth with 185 cases reported.

The survey also found Crown Heights had 170 cases of gonorrhea for women between the ages of 15-19, also number one in the city.

The central Brooklyn neighborhood also ranked second citywide with 164 cases of gonorrhea for women 20-24, and 136 cases for men 20-24.

For men 15-19, there were 87 cases of gonorrhea – ranking third citywide in that category.

Other neighborhoods with high incidents of gonorrhea and chlamydia include East New York, East Flatbush and canaries.

Canarise and Downtown Heights, which includes Fort Greene and Red Hook, were in the top 20 of the rankings in the aforementioned age group, while Coney Island was in the middle of the rankings.

The safest neighborhood in the survey for the aforementioned STDs was Bensonhurst, which only had six cases of gonorrhea reported – three each for men and women – for the ages of 15-19.

Likewise, Bensonhurst had three cases of gonorrhea for women between 20-24, and four cases for men in the same age group.

Bensonhurst had 23 cases of chlamydia for women 15-19, and five cases for men in the same age group.

There were 54 cases of the disease reported in Bensonhurst for women 20-24 and 20 cases for men in the same neighborhood.

The DHH suggests that people having sex outside such a relationship can reduce their risk of contracting STDs by limiting their number of sexual partners, and always using a latex condom (or other type of latex barrier) whenever having vaginal, anal, or oral sex.

People allergic to latex can use condoms made of polyurethane or other synthetic materials.

Free NYC Condoms are available throughout the five boroughs, and organizations can place bulk orders by calling 311 or by visiting the location website at nyccondom.org.

The DHH also recommends avoiding alcohol and drugs when having sex, as doing so makes it more difficult in remember to use condoms.

Additionally, DHH recommends knowing your sex partners, and before having sex with someone to ask that person with whom else he or she has sex.

Lastly, the DHH advises all New Yorkers should know their HIV status.

Free and confidential testing is available at several Health Department clinics throughout the borough regardless of age, immigration status or ability to pay.

For a list of clinics and hours, visit nyc.gov/health, or call 311.