Posted by Karla Rothan

(Click here to view the video on Viddler) 

In response to an increase in cases of syphilis among men who have sex with men (MSM) in central Ohio, Columbus AIDS Task Force is launching a targeted marketing campaign to inform the community and reduce the number of new cases.  The campaign consists of 4 key messages delivered via business-size palm cards, 11×17 posters and t-shirts.  Edgy, though-provoking and informative, the campaign directs the reader to the Ohio HIV/AIDS/STD hotline where the caller can receive more information about syphilis including local test sites.

The campaign will launch in tandem with Columbus Pride activities starting the weekend of June 27, 2008.  In addition to Pride activities, materials will be distributed at gay bars, community centers and bath houses.  The campaign will run for one year.

• The number of new syphilis cases in Ohio has risen 59% since 2000
• In 2006, Ohio ranked 32 out of 50 states for number of syphilis cases reported in the U.S., but 70%* of the syphilis cases in Ohio were reported in Franklin County which represents an alarming local health issue. 
• Men are diagnosed at a rate 3x higher than females and African American and Latino men are diagnosed at higher rates than white males
• While data collected in ODH surveillance stats does not include risk category information for syphilis contraction, local research indicates that men who have sex with men are the population at highest risk for syphilis contraction.
• According to the CDC, Genital sores (chancres) caused by syphilis make it easier to transmit and acquire HIV infection sexually. There is an estimated 2- to 5-fold increased risk of acquiring HIV if exposed to that infection when syphilis is present.
• Possible reasons cited for increases of syphilis among gay men are methamphetamine use leading to unprotected sex with multiple partners and the Internet’s role in connecting gay men together for casual sex.
• Because the behaviors that transmit HIV are the same behaviors that transmit syphilis and because having an HIV diagnosis increases your chances of contracting another STD and contracting another STD when you have a compromised immune system can advance the impact the virus has on individual health, it is critical to address issue of HIV/syphilis co-infection.
• The Ohio HIV/AIDS/STD hotline (800-332-2437), which is operated by Columbus AIDS Task Force, will refer callers to local test sites and provide information.  Caller-specific demographic data and campaign-related data will be collected.
• Test locations in Central Ohio include:  OSU Student Health Center: (students only), Columbus Public Health (CPH), Planned Parenthood, Tobias Project, Inc.