Overview
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences (BIDLS) takes an integrated approach to addressing HIV, viral hepatitis, STIs, TB, and other related infections of public health importance such as Mpox. This involves integrated policy approaches; centralized specimen collection; co-testing (for HIV, HCV, and syphilis); HIV, viral hepatitis, and STI disease surveillance and case management in a single data system; and an integrated infectious disease drug assistance program. For purposes of the SHIP, DPH is focusing on HIV, STIs and TB.
Check out the other topics in this priority area: HIV and Tuberculosis.
Goals
BIDLS leads a response to STIs across five goals:
Goal A: Increase the Ability to Identify New HIV and STI Cases
Objective: By December 31, 2026, expand an integrated approach to diagnosis of HIV and other infectious diseases to 100% of funded providers.
Goal B: Improve Health Outcomes for People with HIV, viral hepatitis, STIs, and TB.
Objective: By 2026, increase cultural awareness, competency, and humility in care and treatment services to support linkage to and maintenance in care.
Goal C: Reduce Number of New HIV Infections and STIs and Increase HIV and STI Awareness and Knowledge Among the Public
Objective: Increase targeted prevention efforts through increased assessments and partnerships
Goal D: Improve Response Functions by Strengthening Systems
Objectives by 2026:
- Implement and improve upon cluster and outbreak detection and response plan
- Conduct assessments to create new data sources, strengthen existing data sources, and monitor data sources to anticipate needs of populations vulnerable to outbreaks
- Strengthen response function at community level and in rural areas
- Increase equity in response to outbreaks by reducing structural racism and strengthening programs that address social determinants of health
Learn more about the goals and detailed strategies for the Massachusetts Integrated HIV Prevention and Care Plan
- Massachusetts Integrated HIV/AIDS Prevention and Care Plan (PDF) | Boston.gov
- Data and reports about sexually transmitted infections (STIs) | Mass.gov
Data
Rates of chlamydia, gonorrhea, confirmed and infectious syphilis, congenital syphilis and confirmed and probable syphilis from 2000 to 2022 are below and on the BIDLS data and reports page. Data is from the Massachusetts Department of Public, Health Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences/Division of STD Prevention.
- Massachusetts saw a 5.5% increase in chlamydia cases from 2021 to 2022 compared to the US, which saw a less than 1% decrease.
- Massachusetts saw a 12.7% increase in gonorrhea cases from 2021 to 2022 compared to the US, which saw a 9.2% decrease.
- Massachusetts saw a 12.5% (10.4 to 11.7) increase in primary and secondary syphilis cases from 2021 to 2022 compared to the US, which saw a 9.3% (16.2 to 17.7) decrease.
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Massachusetts saw the number of cases of congenital syphilis increased 22.2% (9 to 11 cases), concurrent with a 37.5% increase (5.1 to 7.0 per 100,000) in the rate of primary and secondary syphilis among women aged 15 to 44 years. In contrast, the US saw the number of cases of congenital syphilis increased 30.6% (2,875 to 3,755 cases), concurrent with a 17.2% increase (16.3 to 19.1 per 100,000) in the rate of primary and secondary syphilis among women aged 15 to 44 years.
- Learn more about STIs from Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences reports
Community Engagement
DSTDP supports assessments that engage community members and stakeholder groups for input on novel areas for STI prevention and for improvements to standards for follow-up. BIDLS is committed to meaningful community advisory to advance the goals and objectives of the Integrated Plan with a focus on health equity and racial equity. Advisory groups are organized by common and intersectional experiences across sexuality, race, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, HIV status, and behavioral and environmental lived experience such as substance use, homelessness, or incarceration. Advisory groups draw on the expertise and knowledge of their members to identify strategies intended to improve health outcomes across the HIV care continuum. Advisory groups promote shared responsibility for achieving goals identified in the Integrated Plan. BIDLS advisory groups include the following:
- Massachusetts Integrated HIV Prevention and Care Committee (MIPCC)
- Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) Steering Committee
- Statewide Consumer Advisory Group (SWCAG)
- Behavioral Health Advisor Group
- Black Health Advisory Group
- Latine Health Advisory Group
- Gay Men’s Health Advisory Group
- Aging Healthy with HIV Advisory Group
- Transgender, Nonbinary, and Gender Expansive Advisory Group
- Women’s Health Advisory Group
- Congenital Syphilis Advisory Board