Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Sexually Transmitted Diseases

What you don't know won't hurt you, right? Wrong. The purpose of this paper is to discuss sexually transmitted diseases and how they affect men and women of all ages. This is a problem that is multiplying every year and affecting millions of people. Many of whom do not even know that they are at risk and may not know that they could have already encountered a disease. This is an issue that has been a problem for many years and has many negative outcomes for men, women and newborns worldwide. Sexually transmitted diseases has a great deal of relevance to college age students because sexually transmitted diseases are to a large extent infections of the young, mainly because their sexual relations are often unplanned, and typically happen before they have the experience and skills to protect themselves. "US data show that young adults aged 15Ð'-24 years acquired 48% of all such infections, even though not all young adults this age are sexually active". (Glasier, 2006, p. 1600). College aged students are at risk more than any other age group and it is important that we are aware.

2. Describe how common the problem is.

This problem exists and is unbelievably common worldwide. Glasier (2006) reported that:

An estimated 340 million new cases of four common sexually transmitted bacterial infections are acquired every year, at least a third of which affect people aged fewer than 25. Such infections contribute to the Global problem of infertility, which affects more than 180 million couples in developing countries. Nearly 5 million new HIV infections and 257,000 deaths from cervical cancer every year complete this long and dismal record of sexual and reproductive ill-health. (p.1597)

"Globally, about 20% of women aged under 24 years have a prevalent HPV infection, and more than 25% in populations older than 40 years have been infected with HSV" (Catania, 1999, p.32). Thus, the yearly number of sexually transmitted infections acquired easily exceeds 1 billion (more than one infection for every three adults aged 15Ð'-49 years), which is probably an underestimate.

3. Describe why you think this problem exists?

This problem existed in the past because we did not have the knowledge and medicine to prevent these sexually transmitted diseases. Now that we do have the resources to prevent this problem, I believe that the problem still exists because we do not have enough people educated about how to prevent becoming infected with a sexually transmitted disease. Fortunately, many people have become more aware in the past century of how serious these diseases are and how they can be prevented, but I do not believe that enough people are going to the lengths to make the effort.

There are many options that a person has in order to practice safe sex, but not enough people are doing it. If more people were using condoms and not sleeping with multiple partners, then this problem could be reduced greatly. We are not taking enough precautions to ensure our safety from becoming infected with a sexually transmitted disease.

4. Describe the negative effects of this problem on the individual, family, and/ or society.

This problem has many negative effects on an individual, their family and society. One of the most important negative effects that occur when becoming infected with a sexually transmitted disease is that many sexually transmitted infections affect the outcome of pregnancy and some are passed to unborn and newborn babies. A study done in Africa by Ayalew, (2006) showed that:

In sub-Saharan Africa alone, an estimated 1,640,000 pregnant women have undiagnosed syphilis every year; almost all these women remain undetected. Untreated early syphilis results in a stillbirth rate of 25%. An effective screening and treatment program for syphilis in pregnancy in that region could prevent close to half a million fetal deaths a year, a figure rivaling the number of infants infected with HIV by mother-to-child transmission of the virus, which receives much more attention than does syphilis. Worldwide, up to 4000 newborn babies go blind every year because of maternal gonorrhea; an unknown number are affected by neonatal herpes or Chlamydia; and the list goes on and onÐ'... (p. 132)

The young have the most to lose from acquiring sexually transmitted infections, since they will suffer the consequences the longest, and might not reach their full reproductive potential. Some infections, such as scabies or pubic lice, are of low physical morbidity but are distressing to the affected individual. These, and other more physically damaging infections, such as, human papilloma virus (HPV), herpes simplex virus (HSV), and sexually transmitted hepatitis B virus, are far more widespread in the population than the four common diseases.

5. Explain how other cultures and or countries view this problem.

A study done in Bahir Dar showed that the research data indicated a discrepancy between intentions of health center personnel and their actual practices. When asked how STD patients should be treated, health personnel listed such practices as being respectful and friendly, and talking to patients privately. However, when patients were asked about the attitudes of health personnel, they cited the lack of these same courtesies, indicating that health providers, though trained in counseling and communications skills, have not fully put these skills into practice during their day-to-day interactions with patients.

"Negative attitudes displayed by health personnel towards their patients may occur because most patients are prostitutes and poor people. In addition, Ethiopians commonly use alternative medical sources, including self-medication, drug retailers, injection's, and traditional healers, before seeking professional treatment and many health personnel are frustrated at the health complications caused by delayed treatment" (Ayalew, 2004, p.124). Many people in other countries do not seem to view this as such a large problem as it is viewed in the United States.

6. Describe at least two opposing viewpoints regarding how one might cope with this sexual problem.

One might cope with this sexual problem by going to the doctor and getting it taken care of right away. While healthcare providers believe people with STDs should not feel ashamed or guilty, many also admit to mixed emotions. "Teens say that they do find it more difficult to talk about issues like STDs than to actually have sex" (Kaiser,