The Iowa Department of Public Health's Sexually Transmitted Disease Program is continuing its successful efforts to accomplish state and federal goals. In a rural state like Iowa, the STD Program must partner with other groups, agencies, and organizations for the delivery of information and services. The STD Program has established 68 provider sites for gonorrhea and chlamydia screening and treatment. The combination of local health departments and a network of local medical providers are the system that controls these diseases.
In the State of Iowa, chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, HIV, and AIDS are reportable to the Iowa Department of Public Health. By Iowa Code, both the physician who ordered the test and the laboratory who processed the specimen are to report names and other patient demographics to IDPH. This information is protected by law and cannot be released to anyone other than individuals (disease prevention specialists and county public health communicable disease investigators) who perform partner notification and partner referral. In Iowa, by law, a minor can be tested and treated for a sexually transmitted disease without parental consent.
