Saturday, April 20, 2024
4/20/2024
Columbus Public Health (CPH) is partnering with the Ohio Department of Health (ODH), Ohio State University (OSU) and CDC to collect, integrate and disseminate data describing the high burden of STDs in Central Ohio. We also propose to use STD and HIV surveillance data in near-to-real-time to enhance direct services in our jurisdiction. We anticipate that more comprehensive, efficient and data-driven services at CPH will improve the region’s sexual health. SSuN’s required data synthesis will also allow quick dissemination of local findings to providers and community stakeholders, as well as inform prevention policy. The Central Ohio region experiences high rates of STDs (613.3 cases per 100,000 for chlamydia, 279.9 per 100,000 for gonorrhea, and 19.9 per 100,000 for syphilis in 2018) and HIV (11.7 per 100,000 in 2018. Franklin County, in the center of the jurisdiction, is among the hardest-hit communities in the country with regard to HIV, placing it on President Trump’s list of 48 priority areas targeted to end the epidemic. In addition to high STD/HIV rates, profound racial disparities also exist for all STDs. We propose to implement strategies that maximize analysis of new and existing data, leverage and extend existing data systems, strengthen long-standing public health partnerships across the jurisdiction, and enhance bidirectional data sharing between CPH, ODH, and CDC. CPH shall routinely transmit to CDC uniquely-identified case, investigation and clinic visit records, including information obtained through HIV surveillance registry matches, in specified formats and intervals. These activities include: (A) conducting protocol-based sentinel surveillance in CPH’s Sexual Health Clinic; (B) implementing protocol-based, enhanced care-based STI surveillance using state STD and HIV surveillance data; and (C) implementing enhanced case investigations among early syphilis cases reporting neuro, ocular and otic symptoms. Our proposal addresses all populations of specific interest to CDC, including persons diagnosed and reported with STDs, persons presenting for care in facilities providing STD clinical services, men who have sex with men (MSM), and other vulnerable populations such as racial minorities and persons of Hispanic ethnicity. CPH seeks to increase access to high quality, comprehensive STI and HIV services; increase the understanding of epidemiological factors associated with increased STI and HIV incidence and prevalence at the local and national level; increase adherence to STI and HIV screening and treatment guidelines; and to promote evidence-based approaches to improve sexual health. We believe that data from our Midwestern jurisdiction will address existing missing data concerns that currently limit the generalizability of SSuN surveillance data, by providing information from a currently underrepresented region. We further believe that participation in SSuN will support the collection, integration, and dissemination of data that will improve sexual health in our jurisdiction.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
