Environmental Factors in the Tuskegee Study of Untreated Syphilis: Untreated Syphilis in the Male Negro

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Abstract
Since study of untreated syphilis in male Negroes was undertaken in Macon County, Ala., in 1932, the economic status and cultural isolation of most of those in this study have not changed remarkably. Previous medical reports on this group implied that socio-economic and health factors were so uniform in Macon County that mortality or morbidity rate differences between control and syphilitic groups could be attributed solely to syphilis. In the present survey, socioeconomic information was sought to determine if nonsyphilitic subjects had any advantages, other than freedom from syphilis, which would predispose them to longer, healthier lives. No appreciable difference could be shown between the marital statuses of the 2 groups. In no instance could statistical significance be demonstrated in the measures of social status of the 2 study groups. Data presented from this study have shown that socioeconomic differences between persons having syphilis and persons who do not are slight.