I also don't find it surprising, that here in the South where antiquated religious ideals about sex prevail, as well as our very own state legislator blocking state funding to certain clinics because of religious belief, that disease is higher.
Rather than educate people on how to handle sex safely and properly, it is demonized and kids are just told, "Don't do it." That was literally the extent of my own "sex education" during my formative years. I learned everything I know about sex "on the street" which is terrifying and so unsafe. I count myself damn lucky indeed that I never caught anything in my younger years.