Free STD Testing in Wilson, NC

As of 2016, the number of people diagnosed with HIV within the state was 34,187. That year, numbers increased by over 1,000. Those aged 20-29 were the ones most susceptible to the disease. Black, non-Hispanics were the ethnic demographic most impacted. Specifically, Black, non-Hispanic males who were having sex with other men.

Syphilis (primary, secondary, and early latent) affects 18.7 individuals per population of 100,000. In 2015, there were 16 cases of infants reported as having syphilis. The age demographic most impacted last year was those aged 25-29 years of age. Black, non-Hispanic males were most impacted, comprising 51.2% of the cases reported.

The rate for gonorrhea cases increased by over 2,000 in 2016. The rate of cases reported pertaining to women was extremely high because women were frequently visiting a clinic and being tested. The age demographic most impacted were women aged 20-24 years of age. This group was followed closely by women aged 15 to 19 years old. Black, non-Hispanics were the ethnic demographic most impacted by gonorrhea, comprising over half of the cases reported.

The rate of chlamydia last year was 572.4 per a population group of 100,000. The gender demographic most impacted were females. The age demographic most impacted were those aged 20-24 years of age, followed by 15 to 19-year olds. Black, non-Hispanics were the ethnic demographic most impacted by the disease.

North Carolina governmental policies require schools to teach comprehensive sex education. This includes information on how to prevent pregnancy and STI’s. Schools are required to stress the importance of parents being involved, and teach students how to say “no.” Education must also include reproductive and health safety education. This instruction must begin to be taught in the seventh grade. When discussing contraception and family planning, curriculum must discuss how STI’s are transmitted and the methods that can be used to prevent contraction of a disease and/or pregnancy. All information must be age-appropriate, objective and medically sound. Students can only receive information regarding where to find contraceptive from a teacher with their parent’s consent.

Outside the classroom there are also several other resources. There is SHIFT – Sexual Health Initiative for Teens. They are training programs within school and other educational settings. They also provide paper resources on sexual well-being.

The closest Planned Parenthood is in Raleigh, North Carolina, which is about 50-minutes away. This location provides sexual health material for individuals including information on sexual well-being. They also provide contraceptives including condoms.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention also provides their own set of educational resources as well. The center’s resources provide statistical information about STI’s and HIV/AIDS as well as how to prevent infection. They also include information in many of their brochures as to where to find and receive treatment.

Wilson ranks poorer than the country, state and county. On average, the poorest gender demographic were women in their mid-twenties to thirties. Women as a whole tend to make less money annually than men. In 2015, men made 1.22 times more than women. This could possibly correlate with the fact that women were much more impacted by gonorrhea and chlamydia than men.

The ethnic demographic most impacted by STI’s are Black, non-Hispanics. In 2015, they were the ethnic demographic most impacted my STI’s and HIV/AIDS in every category of sexually transmitted disease. This could possibly correlate with the fact that Black, non-Hispanics are the ethnic demographic most impacted by poverty. In 2015, Black, non-Hispanics made nearly $12,000 less than the highest made ethnic demographic – White, non-Hispanics.

There could also be a correlation between the fact that women are the greatest gender demographic impacted by gonorrhea and chlamydia and the fact that they are one of the lowest medically insured groups. Black, non-Hispanic women were also less likely to receive preventative health services.

Finally, there could be a correlation between the fact that Black, non-Hispanics are the ethnic demographic most impacted by STI’s and the fact that almost 50% less of Black, non-Hispanics will graduate when compared to the leading ethnic group – White, non-Hispanics. In 2015, there were 365 White, non-Hispanics and only 200 Black, non-Hispanics.

The Carolina Family Health Centers Incorporated Wilson Community Health Center is located in Wilson, North Carolina. The clinic offers conventional HIV testing, rapid HIV blood testing, chlamydia testing, gonorrhea testing, and syphilis testing. They are opened to the general public and take most forms of insurance.

There is also the Wilson County Department of Public Health. They are located a little over a mile away. They offer testing for HIV, Chlamydia, Syphilis and Gonorrhea. Their rapid HIV testing is for high risk clients only.

The Opportunities Industrialization Center of Wilson Incorporated is located in Wilson about two miles from the city center. They offer free HIV testing, Conventional HIV blood and oral testing, rapid HIV oral testing, and testing for syphilis. They are opened to the general public.

Carolina Family Health Centers Incorporated Harvest Family Health Center is located about nine miles away in Elm City, North Carolina. Their clinic offers conventional HIV blood testing, rapid HIV blood testing, Chlamydia testing, Syphilis testing, Gonorrhea testing, and the HPV vaccine. They are opened to the general public.

The Nash County Health Department Rocky Mount Branch Office is located 16 miles away. Their clinic offers HIV testing, conventional HIV blood testing, Chlamydia testing, Syphilis testing, and Gonorrhea testing. They are opened to the general public and take appointments and walk-ins

The Edgecombe County Health Department Rocky Mount Office is located 16 miles away in Rock Mount, North Carolina. They offer free HIV testing, conventional HIV blood testing, Chlamydia testing, Syphilis testing, Gonorrhea testing, and the HPV and Hepatitis B vaccine. They accept most major insurances and are opened to the general public.

The Planned Parenthood in nearby Raleigh offers treatment and testing for Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Syphilis and HIV. In addition, they offer testing and treatment for bacterial vaginosis, genital warts, herpes, and trichomoniasis. They also offer the HPV vaccine and condoms. STD screenings are available to both men and women on a walk-in basis. They offer testing for gonorrhea and Chlamydia using a urine sample. If tests come back positive treatment is available for both the patient and their partner. Many insurances are accepted and if the patient is insured than there are options available for the patient to still receive treatment.

Wilson, North Carolina seems to provide adequate resources, testing, and treatment for the population it has. While there has been an increase in STI’s, this does not seem to be from a lack of information provided both in an academic and medical setting. Educational curriculum supports and advocates abstinence, while also promoting being smart when becoming sexually active. While there is no Planned Parenthood within the city limits of Wilson, there is a center in a nearby town, and Wilson has several local clinics where testing and treatment is provided. Demographics and statistics suggest that African Americans are most likely to contract an STI. It could be argued that this is a result of the percentage of white students that graduate as opposed to students of other ethnicities. Regardless of the statistics, the best way to prevent STI’s is to either remain abstinent or practice safe sex with your partner. Wilson also provides several online resources that help educate about STI’s. One of which is: urgentcarelocations.com/nc/wilson/wilson-std-testings-screenings.

As always, if you believe you have contracted an STI, please search out a testing center and seek treatment.