Parkland takes action to combat maternal syphilis crisis in Dallas

During STI Awareness Month, experts are responding to community needs, reducing stigmas DALLAS – According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 2.5 million cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis were reported in the United States in 2022. In response to this alarming trend, Parkland Health has launched a series of initiatives aimed at curbing the spread of these sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and raising awareness about the importance of STI screenings. April is STI Awareness Month, but Parkland offers testing, treatment and STI education year-round throughout our health system, including at our 16 Community Oriented Primary Care (COPC) health centers and through our Access to Care & Coverage Program, which brings Parkland to a neighborhood near you. Reported cases of syphilis and gonorrhea have increased every year in Dallas County since 2015, according to data published in the 2022 Dallas County Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA). Dallas County recorded more than 3,000 cases of syphilis and more than 10,000 cases of gonorrhea in 2020. Although slightly down from the year prior, more than 17,000 cases of chlamydia were still reported in 2020 and 688 people were newly diagnosed with HIV in Dallas County as...