The Necessity of Sex Education Among Young Women: a Way of Preventing the Spread Disease - Essay Example

?The Necessity of of Sex Education Among Young Women: A Way of Preventing the Spread of Sexually Transmitted Disease I. Introduction In a research done by Center for Disease Control in 2004, In 2004, CDC reported that nearly half of the estimated new STD infections were in patients aged 15 to 24 years. Women aged 15 to 19 years have the highest reports of chlamydia and gonorrhea compared with women in other age groups, and women who contract human papillomavirus (HPV) infection typically do so in the early adolescent years (Wasik,78). Women, especially young women, are disproportionately affected by STDs and their consequences and their consequences (Eng & Butler). In the United States, one in four women aged 14 to 19 has an STD (Forhan). What is more disturbing is that in that CDC study that reported 1 out of 4 young women had STD’s, only about half acknowledged to have had sex. Among those who admitted having sex, the rate was even more disturbing — 40 percent had an STD ((1 in 4 teen girls has sexually transmitted disease. Associated Press. 31 November 2008). Because of the prevalence and potentially negative outcomes of these illnesses, it is critical to reduce the transmission of STDs (CDC). Younger women are particularly vulnerable to contracting STD. Blame is most often placed on inadequate sex education, from parents and from schools focusing too much on abstinence-only programs. Add to that a young person’s sense of being invulnerable (AP)… many teens don’t think they’re at risk, but also, some doctors mistakenly think: “Sexually transmitted diseases don’t happen to the kinds of patients I see” (1 in 4 teen girls has sexually transmitted disease. Associated Press. 31 November 2008) II. Common STD Among Teens The following are the most common Sexually Transmitted Disease infection among young women aged 15 to 24 (Wasik, pg. 81-83)that is avoidable if only these young girls are aware on how to protect themselves when they decide to have sex. Chlamydia. Chlamydia trachomatis infection is the most frequently reported sexually transmitted infectious disease in the United States and continues to be an important risk factor for pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), ectopic pregnancies, urethritis, cervicitis, chronic pelvic pain, and infertility. . . In women, the highest age-specific rates were among patients aged 15 to 19 years (3,004.7 cases per 100,000) and those aged 20 to 24 (2,948.8 cases per 100,000). A review Genital herpes. Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2) infections are both chronic, lifelong viral infections. Approximately 50 million people in the United States are infected with HSV. Genital warts. The relationship between HPV and cervical cancer and genital warts has been recognized for many years. Although Gonorrhea. Untreated gonorrhea can lead to cervicitis, urethritis, proctitis, PID, adverse outcomes in pregnancy, and increased susceptibility to and transmission of HIV. . . Each year, an estimated 600,000 new cases of gonorrhea occur. Bacterial vaginosis. Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is polymicrobial syndrome that causes 10% to 30% infectious vaginitis cases in women of childbearing age. Bacterial vaginosis is the result of an overgrowth of Gardnerella vaginalis, Myoplasma hominis, Mobiluncus species, Bacteroides species (excluding Bacteroides fragilis), and Peptostreptococcus species. Trichomoniasis. There are >170 million cases of trichomoniasis annually worldwide, including >7.4 million new cases annually in North America. Trichomoniasis vaginalis is the protozoan that causes trichomoniasis. III. Reason for the Prevalence of Sexually Transmitted Disease Among Young Women. Inferring to the above data, the prevalence of STD’s among young women is more pervasive than the 25 % or one out of four women infection rate. In that 25 % infection rate, that already included the entire sample population of the CDC study which only almost half acknowledged to have had sex and the other half on abstinence. And among those who acknowledged to have had sex, the figure was at a staggering 40 % infection rate. That figure according to CDC is still the prevalence rate of STD infection among the young women today. Clearly, there is disconnect or a lack of better program where the prevalence of STD among young women can be arrested. Among those reason that are pointed to be the culprit of the prevalence of STD is the lack of awareness of STD and incorrect assumption about sex. In the United States, despite of its advances in education and the openness of society in general, sex can still be categorized as “taboo” where the advice given among young women about sex is abstinence and does not go further on educating them on how to protect themselves when they decide to have sex. Young girls are generally not prepared to make responsible decision on their own about sex as they are not properly generally informed on the dangers of unprotected sex. Also, there is also another disconnect between reproductive health professionals and the patients to possibly facilitate better awareness on how to protect themselves from STDs. In a study conducted by Breitkopf, Pearson, & Breitkopf, there appeared a separation of what the health provider intends to do and how the patients understand it especially with the subject of STD. For instance, of the 338 women undergoing cervical screening to complete a questionnaire assessing knowledge of the Papanicolaou (Pap) test. Only 12% of the sample correctly identified that a Pap test does not test for STDs. In another investigation of 111 females between the ages of 14 and 24 (mean age 18.1), 79% believed that Pap test was synonymous with a pelvic exam and 78% with STD testing (Blacke, Weber). This only showed a lack of understanding about STD among young women and awareness on how to protect themselves. Also, the stigmatization of the disease make it difficult for the young women to confront the reality of sexually transmitted disease as prejudices become attached to infected people, who become stigmatised as being wicked, dirty and not deserving of care, even though sexually transmitted infections are often acquired through consensual, pleasurable and legal sexual intercourse (Low, et al). IV. Conclusion. Indeed the numbers of sexually transmitted disease among young women are alarmingly critical. Imagine that a quarter of all young women aged 15-24 having a sexually transmitted infection while 40% of those who already had sex is already infected. That is almost half of the total young women aged 15-24 to have the disease and can be deduced as the probability of contracting the disease when having unprotected sex with a young woman in that age bracket. And these communicable diseases are not difficult to prevent had there been an adequate program and awareness on how women can protect themselves from getting infected of a sexually transmitted disease. What is alarming with these figures is not only the prevalence of sexually transmitted infection among young women but this also illustrates the vulnerability of young girls against the more lethal sexually acquired disease such as HIV which is also communicable through unprotected sex. With the rate of the prevalence of STD’s among young women, it will be just a matter of time that the rate of HIV will shoot up. References Blake, D.R., Weber, B.M., & Fletcher, K.E. (2004). Adolescent adn young adult women's misunderstanding of the term pap smear. Archieves of Pediatrics adn Adolescent Medicine, 158 (10), 966-970 Breitkopf, C.R., Pearson, H.C., & Breitkopf, D.M.(2005). Poor knowledge regarding the pap test among low-income women undergoing routine screening. Perspectives on Sexual Reproductive Health, 37(2), 78-84. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2006). Sexually transmitted diseases treatment guidelines. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 55 (R R-1 1), 1-94 Eng, T.R., & Butler, W.T.(Eds).. (1997). The hidden epidemic: Confronting sexually transmitted diseases. Washington, DC: National Academy Press. Forhan, S.E. (2008). Prevalence of sexually transmitted infections and bacterial vaginosis among female adolescents in the United States: Data from teh National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey( NHANES) 2003-2004. Paper Presented at the National STD Prevention Conference, Chicago, IL Low N, Broutet N, Adu-Sarkodie Y, Barton P, Hossain M, Hawkes S, Lancet . Global control of sexually transmitted infections., ISSN: 1474-547X, 2006 Dec 2; Vol. 368 (9551), pp. 2001-16; PMID: 17141708 Wasik M; Kachlic MD; Formulary. A review of common sexually transmitted diseases. 2009 Mar; 44 (3): 78-85 (journal article - pictorial, review, tables/charts) ISSN: 1082-801X Retrieved from :http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23574940/ns/health-kids_and_parenting/t/teen-girls-has-sexually-transmitted-disease/. June 07, 2011 Read More