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Vicious Habits

Sexually Transmitted Infections among Black and White Union Army Veterans

In: Journal of Applied History
Authors:
Sven E. Wilson Brigham Young University Departments of Political Science and Economics

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Christopher Roudiez University of Maryland Department of Economics

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Heather DeSomer National Bureau of Economic Research

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Coralee Lewis National Bureau of Economic Research

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Noelle Yetter National Bureau of Economic Research

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Online Publication Date:
12 Dec 2019
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Abstract

We analyze a random sample of 15,049 white veterans and 5,329 black veterans of the US Civil War examined by physicians between 1890 and 1906. We calculate a period prevalence of STI of 1.2–1.7 % among whites and 4.2–8.0 % among blacks, even though blacks and whites had almost identical prevalence of STI s in their wartime medical records. Furthermore, we find evidence that Board physicians were on the lookout for STI s among black veterans that could be used to justify denial of pension support. With or without STI s, blacks were rejected at roughly twice the rate of whites during this time period. Currently, racial disparities are even higher today than in this historical period, with blacks currently having a 5–15 times higher incidence than whites. We invite a critical reflection upon practices of screening and measurement systems to assess properly the degree to which racial prejudice may be part of these systems.

Title:
Vicious Habits
Article Type:
Research Article
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1163/25895893-00101003
Language:
English
Pages:
53–67
Keywords:
public health history; racial discrimination; American history
In:
Journal of Applied History
In:
Volume 1: Issue 1-2
Publisher:
Brill
E-ISSN:
2589-5893
Print ISSN:
2589-5885
Subjects:
General, History

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