Take Your Own Advice! U.S. Should Pay More Attention to STD Prevention Programs Abroad

Most sexually transmitted diseases are preventable. That’s one reason it’s so upsetting that one in four sexually active girls in the United States has one. Out of the 19 million new STD cases annually in the U.S., almost half are among people ages 15 to 24. And those statistics only represent the number of reported cases; many more infections go undocumented. Despite the clear need for STD prevention strategies among young people, current efforts are scattered and inconsistent across the U.S. While 23 states require sex education, only 13 states require that the information be “medically accurate.” Even when sex education is taught in schools, many states require an emphasis on abstinence. But are these abstinence-only programs really helping to reduce STDs in younger generations? Simply put, no.
Comprehensive sex education, using the example of Zambia
For elementary and middle school students at Chadiza Basic School in the Eastern Province of Zambia, every day begins with a prayer. Since religion is an integral part of many aspects of daily life in Zambia, you might think that schools in this self-proclaimed Christian nation may be the last place you would expect to find comprehensive sex education. Despite the widespread religious and cultural taboos of sex education in Zambia, the prevalence of HIV and other STDs throughout the country has encouraged the Ministry of Health to open up the dialogue about safe sex.
Middle schoolers are a difficult audience, especiall...

Source: Disruptive Women in Health Care - March 9, 2016 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: dw at disruptivewomen.net Tags: Advocacy Global Health Publc Health Source Type: blogs