The STD capital of California

Monica Valera, an 18-year-old college student from Shafter, knew no place to get tested for STIs in her hometown until when she spoke to Fusion three weeks ago. She is an undocumented person with no health insurance plan before enrolling in her university last year. She has learnt a place where she can for free or cheap –cost STD testing.  The Planned Parenthood in Bakersfield is something most people don’t know. Valera asked her 17 years old brother if he has an idea of the reproductive health provider. He had no idea and went further ask if it serves the girl child only. The services are open to all genders.

According to the CDC, people aged 15-24 years account for over ten million cases of new STIs in the US every year.  Kern County where Valera lives has high rates of STIs especially with Chlamydia tripling over the past two decades. It has the largest number of Chlamydia and congenital syphilis and ranks third for gonorrhea cases according to the Kern County health department statistics. The federal health data indicate that Latinos have a higher chance of getting STIs and they cover half of the population of the Kern County. Their Chlamydia rate was also found to double the whites nationally.

The plight of the undocumented persons

Loany Villegas, a 24-year-old college student, says that it's complicated to visit a doctor because you have to miss work, seek transportation and then go back to look for medicine. An estimated number of 75,000 people are undocumented in Kern County, and most of them are uninsured. Undocumented adults are not legible for Medi-Cal. Many young undocumented persons remain uninsured even though the state extended low health care cost for the undocumented young people.

Valera says that she first got STD testing in college for free since she feared the treatment she would get in Shafter as an undocumented person.  An undocumented substitute teacher from Bakersfield, Cecilia Castro thinks that inadequate comprehensive education on sex in schools is a major contributor to the STI rates in the County. She says preventive measures and where to get tested is not taught in schools. Moises Duran, a youth organizer, seconds Cecilia Castro. The organizer who works with Gay and Lesbian Center in Bakersfield and Dolores Huerta Foundation says that more concern is given to celibacy other than the preventive approaches the young people are supposed to use.

Even though comprehensive education was voted in January in California for the public middle and high schools, it is still early to show the impact it has on STI rate among the teens. Access to health care will always be an issue as long as the undocumented people are left in the dark according to Natasha Felkins, a Planned Parenthood Mar Monte health educator. Undocumented children are uncomfortable even though there are caring individuals who can answer their queries.

Factors working against the undocumented people

Felkins says that Latinos face financial challenges, isolation in rural areas and stigma around sexual health.  The outlying rural areas prove hardships in getting transportation for the undocumented youth as well as getting to health centers full of people you meet on daily basis. The political environment, religious and attitude which are conservative in the county is another barrier that contributes to hostility among the undocumented person or the LGBT people.

The hostility was seen in June last year when a board of trustees wanted to adopt the anti-discrimination law for transgender students that ended up in a vocal clash between the LGTB, youth advocates and the community members. The young people cannot risk having their identity revealed for fear f discrimination. Michelle Corson, a Kern County health public relations officer, revealed a campaign rolled it to reduce STI rates, although it does not cover the undocumented person. 

Contributor: admin