Passing the Test: Preventing STIs
Kristine
Web Correspondent
Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota Action Fund
Wouldn’t it be nice if we lived in a world free of disease and sexually transmitted infections? Unfortunately this is not the case, so we as a nation--and a planet--need to work together to fight STIs. A great way to do this is through prevention. Getting tested greatly discourages the spread of infection and encourages awareness of reproductive health. But when clinics are underfunded it becomes difficult for them to provide this resource. However, it is imperative that such facilities be made available, as there is a much higher chance of STIs becoming widespread if people who are infected are unaware of it. Getting tested also means a likelier chance of seeking treatment.
Being informed of one’s sexual health is critical. But evidently, many young people today are simply not aware of the consequences that sex can bring. According to a 2003 study on sexual health attitudes of young adults, many are dangerously uninformed when it comes to protecting themselves from disease. The study, National Survey of Adolescents and Young Adults: Sexual Health Knowledge, Attitudes and Experiences, reports that:
While three quarters of adolescents and young adults say they know at least "something" about STDs and HIV/AIDS and one-quarter say they know "a lot", half of those surveyed did not know that 25% of sexually active young people contract an STD, and one-third were unaware that people their age account for 50% of all new HIV infections. Between one-fifth and three-fifths of those surveyed do not know the specific complications of certain diseases. One-fifth of young people believe they would simply "know" if someone else had an STD even if they were not tested, and one-sixth believe that STD transmission can only occur when obvious symptoms are present.
Dire consequences for our nation’s young men and women await if we cannot provide them with adequate sexual health resources. If we as a nation do not take responsibility for our citizens’ sexual health, we will certainly be sacrificing a lot.
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