Introduction
Since the beginning of time, many of the plagues that we have faced have been global and catastrophic in nature- the Bubonic Plague for example decimated nearly 1/5 of the world population in the Middle Ages. In modern times, the later decades of the 20th century has seen a pandemic that is wrecking just as much havoc on the globe- Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) and one in particular- HIV and AIDs. The focus of this paper will explore past interventions using social marketing and Social Network Theory as their foundation to encourage condom usage to prevent the spread of STDs.
Public Health Concern
In modern times, STDs (such as HIV and AIDs) have wrecked such havoc upon the globe with more than 35.3 million being affected in 2012 (UNAIDS, 2013). Sub-Saharan Africa has become most affected by this disease, with little knowledge of prevention, means of transmission, and conflicts that stems progress of these countries. But it’s not only in these third world countries that HIV and AIDs have sway- in the US there are 1.2 million who live with disease in 2012. The utter destruction of the body’s immune system due to HIV/AIDs leaves those suffering from HIV/AIDs susceptible to dying from pneumonia and other easily treated diseases. The fact that such a disease can be prevented easily with condom usage and regular testing (Burke, 2012) is why there a great Public Health concern for condom usage among susceptible populations such as the youth, those who are sexually active, and drug users as well. As this disease has no known cure, it is critically important that public health organizations propagate the prevention of STDs via condom usage and tries to break down the stigma involved and bring commun...
... middle of paper ...
...ebruary 11, 2014.” Retrieved from: https://learn.unt.edu/bbcswebdav/pid-518455-dtcontent-
rid-2345715_1/courses/BACH_5300_ DL02_Fall2012/L6%20HANDOUT.pdf
Pealer, Lisa PhD. “Social Network Theory.” “University of North Texas Health Science Center.
October 5, 2012.” Retrieved from: https://learn.unt.edu/bbcswebdav/pid-518455-dtcontent-
rid-2345715_1/courses/BACH_5300_DL02_Fall2012/L6%20HANDOUT.pdf
Burke, R. C., & Wilson, J. (2011). Nyc condom use and satisfaction and demand for alternative condom products in nyc std clinics. Journal of Urban Health, 88(4), 749-758. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3157509/
Cohen, D. A., & Farley, T. A. (1999). Implementation of condom social marketing in louisiana from 1993-1996. American Journal of Public Health , 89(2), 204-208. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1508523/
Witte, K., Berkowitz, J. M., Cameron, K. A., & McKeon, J. K. (1998). Preventing the spread of genital warts: using fear appeals to promote self-protective behaviors. Health education & behavior : the official publication of the Society for Public Health Education (Vol. 25, pp. 571–585). doi:10.1177/109019819802500505
Reflective of the predominantly conservative mindset of the early to mid 1900s, the sex education programs in the Florida education system seem to focus primarily on “abstinence-only-until-marriage” (Support SIECUS). In other words, these programs preach that completely abstaining from any sexual activity is the only way to avoid potentially devastating consequences, such as teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Although this idea may be true, it is based on the faulty premise that all teens will adhere to such a policy, therefore, eliminating the need to educate them on other precautionary measures, such as contraceptives. Unfortunately, such hopes have proven to be unrealistic, resulting in the need for these programs to be readdressed.
Ballaro, Beverly, and Ann Griswold. “Condom Distribution: An Overview.” Points of View: Condom Distribution (2013): 1. Points of View Reference Center. Web. 23 Oct. 2013.
...s effected by the three parameters, so in this case the health motivation is very high. Therefore, teens are very like to change to use condoms to prevent pregnancy.
Spink, Gemma. "AIDS." AVERTing HIV and AIDS. 23 Dec 2009. Web. 11 Jan 2010. .
The main reason why this article was written was because there was a lack of attention on risk behaviours regarding women’s HIV prevention in the US. Since women have not been paid attention to, they are more susceptible then men in contracting HIV/AIDS. We need to design a risk reduction program that pays more attention to women.
Today millions of people globally are plagued with HIV/AIDS; some of which were contracted unknowingly through heterosexual sexual contact, others unknowingly through homosexual contact and surprisingly some who set out to contract HIV/AIDS purposefully. Bareback sex refers to intercourse without the use of any barrier protections to prevent the transmission of bodily fluids between participants. This is an extremely high risk behavior given the number of sexually transmitted diseases, and not knowing the status of HIV in them or in their partners. Unfortunately, in some developing countries the technology and condom supply are very little in respect to the sexually active population, and therefore results in more cases of STD’s and HIV/AIDS.
Analyses of the Urban Institute’s National Survey of Adolescent Males (NSAM) show that although most sexually experienced teenage males have used condoms at least once, many do not use them consistently. Only 35 percent reported using a condom every time they had sex in the past year. But teenage males use condoms more than older men, and between 1979 and 1988 reported condom use among male teenagers doubled. These patterns indicate that teenagers are a promising target population for condom promotion efforts since they appear more ready than older men to change their behaviors.
Wurth, Margaret H, et al., “Condoms as Evidence of Prostitution in the United States and the Criminalization of Sex Work.” Journal of the International AIDS Society. 16.1 (2013): 1 - 3. Academic Search Complete. Web. 16 Oct. 2015.
Today it is no longer a novelty to hear that teenagers are having sex. However, while this “bedroom” activity may be fun, there are now ample reports indicating that rates of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in teenagers have skyrocketed. Current data reveal that nearly 25% of adolescent girls who have sex are infected with one of the four commonly sexually transmitted infections-namely gonorrhea, chlamydia, herpes and HIV (Kann et al, 2015). Nationally, the prevalence of STDs account for 50% of cases in people under the age of 25. While every ethnic and race has been known to be affected, African American youth are disproportionately affected. These data are not a surprise to professionals who are engaged in adolescent sexual health because the numbers have been slowly creeping up over the decades, despite national educational policies to counter the threat of STDs (Sales & DiClemente, 2016). All the STDs have a significant impact on sexual and reproductive health, if they are mot promptly diagnosed and treated. Although many preventive strategies have been implemented in all communities, the rates of STDs are still increasing (Madkour et al, 2016).
Not surprisingly the lack of useful sexual information is one of the reasons of the spreading sex related diseases. According to The American Social Health Association (1998) each year there are near ten million of new cases of sexually transmitted diseases among the teenage...
Arielle Massiah SW 7300 Sunday, March 29, 2015 Article Critique Teenage Sexuality and Media Practice: Factoring in the Influences of Family, Friends, and School Jeanne Rogge Steele Literature Review and Theoretical/ Conceptual Framework The social problem that the research addresses is the outrageously high rate of unprotected teenage sexual engagement and encounters. The problem was made apparent due to a survey that disclosed that not only had “three quarters of the 2,439 participants engage in sexual intercourse by their senior year, half of the participants reported that they did not use condoms and one third of the population failed to allocate the use of birth control at all; drastically increasing their exposure to HIV, sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy”. Steele, 1999, p. 339.
Kirby D. (2007) “Sex and HIV Programs: Their Impact on Sexual Behaviors of Young People Throughout the World.” Journal of Adol
AIDS affects much of the world today; as of 2009, two million people have died from the disease (“What Is AIDS/HIV?”). There are two types of HIV which means that it is much harder to cure; however, since HIV-2 is usually only found in Africa, there is no real need to test for it in other parts of the world (“What Is AIDS/HIV”). The most affected country is Africa because Africa has the least amount of resources to combat the disease. The World Health Organization (WHO) has actually started using door-to-door testing methods in countries with huge epidemics like Uganda and Kenya (“HIV testing and counselling”). Though many AIDS patients who receive treatment will still die, their life will be prolonged...
The emergence of HIV/AIDS is viewed globally as one of the most serious health and developmental challenges our society faces today. Being a lentivirus, HIV slowly replicates over time, attacking and wearing down the human immune system subsequently leading to AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) at which point the affected individual is exposed to life threatening illnesses and eventual death. Despite the fact that a few instances of this disease have been accounted for in all parts of the world, a high rate of the aforementioned living with HIV are situated in either low or medium wage procuring nations. The Sub-Saharan region Africa is recognized as the geographic region most afflicted by the pandemic. In previous years, people living with HIV or at risk of getting infected did not have enough access to prevention, care and treatment neither were they properly sensitized about the disease. These days, awareness and accessibility to all the mentioned (preventive methods, care etc.) has risen dramatically due to several global responses to the epidemic. An estimated half of newly infected people are among those under age 25(The Global HIV/AIDS Epidemic). It hits hard as it has no visible symptoms and can go a long time without being diagnosed until one is tested or before it is too late to manage.