At a glance
Jurisdictions are leaning into targeted STI prevention and treatment strategies by focusing on the needs and interests of local communities and delivering partnerships invested in meeting people where they are.
2024
Great Plains Tribal Leaders' Health Board (GPTLHB)
In April 2024, staff from CDC's Division of STD Prevention and Division of HIV Prevention responded to a request for technical assistance (TA) from the Great Plains Tribal Leaders' Health Board (GPTLHB) to address syphilis and congenital syphilis outbreaks among American Indian/Alaskan Native persons in the Great Plains Area of South Dakota. In response to the request, the GPTLHB and CDC staff partnered with individuals from the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, the Oglala Sioux Tribe, the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, the U.S. Indian Health Service (IHS), and visiting physicians from Massachusetts General Hospital to provide comprehensive onsite TA in disease intervention. The CDC staff led three trainings to 30 tribal staff on partner services, disease investigation, and clinical best practices for syphilis control. Additionally, the CDC team located 25 individuals who needed syphilis treatment, including six of seven pregnant women who were prioritized for treatment. The CDC staff also demonstrated how to perform client interviews for partner elicitation. They elicited 37 contacts; 29 were interviewed.
The CDC staff developed recommendations for GPTLHB to consider as the tribes consider developing a tribal DI program. To strengthen syphilis prevention and control efforts, GPTLHB and the tribes should continue building collaborative relationships with IHS, the South Dakota Department of Health, and other key stakeholders, while establishing clear roles, responsibilities, and communication pathways within and across organizations. Creating a formal tribal DI program structure, supported by a confidential data system, continuous workforce development, and the implementation of a syphilis reactor grid for case prioritization will enhance program sustainability and effectiveness. Additionally, prioritizing confidentiality, leveraging best practices from other tribal programs, and expanding partnerships with governmental and non-governmental organizations will increase outreach impact and improve public health outcomes. If the recommendations are implemented, there is potential for long term benefits in improving sexual health in the Great Plains Area of South Dakota, with the sustained collaborations among many partners in the region.