STDs increase in Artemisa due to shortage and high prices of condoms

TheSexually transmitted diseases (STDs) have increased in Artemisa due to the shortage of condoms and their high prices.

The official newspaperArtemiseno He noted that since the first quarter of 2021, Artemisa pharmacies have not received condoms. They reviewed a report from the provincial Public Health Directorate where an increase in STD diagnoses is seen in 2022.

During the past year theHIV/AIDS epidemic maintained its upward trend since its beginnings in 1986. There was a decrease in HIV diagnoses compared to 2021, but specialists had toincrease case finding in the municipalities of Guanajay, Güira de Melena and Candelaria.

In Artemis theage groups most affected by HIV Young people between 20 and 24 years old represent 28.3% of the cases. They are followed by those aged 25 to 29 years and 30 to 34 years old with 15.1% each group. The most frequent cases are detected in males, especially men who have sex with men, but there are reports of affected females.

In 2022, cases ofherpe simple, condyloma andsyphilis, the latter present in all municipalities, with more incidence in Bahía Honda, San Cristóbal, Bauta and Artemisa.

Syphilis mainly affects age groups between 19 and 24 years old, and between 15 and 18 years old with 12.5%.

Theblenorrhagia It also increased at a rate of 46.1 per 100 thousand inhabitants, with the highest incidence in the Artemisa municipality, in Güira, Bahía Honda and San Cristóbal.

There is no production of condoms in Cuba andshortage It has affected Cubans for years, but in 2022 it leaves alarming statistics. The State does not offer solutions and leaves the responsibility of taking care of themselves in the hands of citizens, forcing them to pay for condoms in the informal market.

The official press pointed out that "everyone must think about possible ways to protect themselves; whether withabstinence, safe sex or looking for the male contraceptive where there is no shortage", that is, in the irregular market.

Heprice of contraceptive methods In the informal market of Cuba it does not stop rising, due to the scarcity of these products in pharmacies. A cycle of contraceptive vaccines for one year costs 3,600 pesos and condoms are worth it in some territoriesup to 70 pesos for a single unit.

Other provinces where an increase in cases of sexually transmitted diseases is reported areSantiago de Cuba andGuantanamo. In that eastern territory, what has been detected the most is vaginal discharge syndrome, syphilis and the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).