Sexually Transmitted Infections Awareness In Teenagers

Sexually Transmitted Infections Awareness in Teenagers Name Institution Sexually Transmitted Infections Awareness in Teenagers Overview Sexually transmitted diseases/infections (STIs) are common among teenagers. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in the United States, there are approximately 20 million cases of people with an STI. Out of these 20 million, half of them are young people aged between 15 and 24 years. Further, about one in every 20 teens is believed to have an STI every year. Research also shows that girls are more prone or at a higher risk of having STIs (Dehne et al. 2005). Many teenagers do not have access to appropriate and affordable STI services and so many of them do not get the recommended STI tests. Further, many teens are cautious and afraid to speak openly with a healthcare professional about their sex lives. Other barriers that adolescents face include inability to pay, conflict between clinic opening hours and school hours, long wait times, lack of transport, confidentiality concerns, embarrassment attached to having STIs, and discomfort in the methods of specimen collection. Ideally, Dehne et al., (2005) notes that even though there has been an increase in efforts to enhance teen sexual and reproductive health, the problem still persists. For this reason, it is important to understand the prevalence of STIs among teens and the need for adequate health services, as well as awareness. Literature Review According to Dehne et al. (2005), many teenagers across the world are sexually active. In many cases, sexual contact among adolescents is unprotected and so they are at a greater risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases or infections (STIs). The use of contraceptives among young people is largely low and there is less likelihood of them using condoms compared to adults. The cultural and societal expectations contribute in some way to the lack of use of these contraceptives especially among girls because trying to secure contraceptives at that young age would “raise eyebrows (Dehne et al., 2005).” While STIs often occur because of having unprotected sex with multiple partners, it can also occur among those with long-term partners such as through unfaithfulness of one or both partners. In teens, the risk of contracting STIs is greater for those who come from socially and economically marginalized environments because sexual contact can occur through coercion or even selling sex to get some financial benefits. Further, girls are at a greater risk of STIs than boys because of biological reasons. Sexual contact with girls often involve being penetrated and this increases the risk of contracting STIs (Dehne et al., 2005). One of the main reasons young people are vulnerable to STIs is because they lack adequate sex education. Dehne et al., (2005) notes that even in modern society, there is still some reluctance in some quarters to address the sexual activity of adolescents despite extensive knowledge that sexual activity begins early on. For example, a parent could assume that her child would never have sexual activity because she is too young and so does not bother to give any sex education. While there is sex education in schools, it is often insufficient or uses strate...