For example, the annual rate of new gonorrhea infections in large African cities is 3,000 to 10,000 per 100,000 population, or as many as one in every 10 people. Among developing regions STDs appear to be more common in Africa than in Asia or Latin America. In many countries clinic surveys are the best available indicators of STD levels. Many people with STDs do not seek care, and in developing countries people are not routinely screened for STDs when they seek other health care. Because of the stigma attached to STDs, many people seek care from providers who do not report cases.
Some governments are reluctant to admit to a high prevalence of STDs.
The AIDS epidemic is beginning to change this attitude, however. The few studies in developing countries report mixed trends. Evidence from developed countries also shows mixed trends.