Sexually Transmitted Diseases
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Several factors influence the need for improved collaborative work and integration of prevention and disease control services among HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis, immunizations, sexually transmitted diseases (STD), and tuberculosis (TB) programs. Among these are the interactions between concurrent infections, risk behaviors, and the cumulative effects of multiple communicable diseases, especially on health inequities affecting at-risk populations. The net impact of this interaction is the excess morbidity and mortality experienced currently by affected populations and individuals. HIV and other STDs, viral hepatitis, and TB remain among the leading causes of morbidity and death in Florida as in the United States and account for substantial healthcare spending in both the public and private sector.
Are You In The Dark About STDs?
Most young adults pride themselves in 'knowing it all'. From which college to choose, which job to take, or the best hangout spot on a Friday night. And, they most certainly think they know everything there is to know about sex whether they are having it or not. But, when asked to produce the facts about STDs they give the blank stare like they forgot about a pop quiz in English class.
So, are you afraid of being left in the dark?
It's time to ditch the dark and learn these truths about STDs:
- 19 million new sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) occur each year.
- Almost half of them among young people ages 15 to 24.
- 10,000 teens are infected by STDs per day, that's one every eight seconds!
- One out of every four sexually active teens has an STD, and one in two sexually active youth will contract an sexually transmitted infection (STI) by age 25.
- For females, more cases of syphilis were reported between the ages of 15 to 24 than any other age group in Florida.
- Approximately 18% of all new HIV diagnoses are among young people aged 13 ― 24
- Two out of every three reported STD cases in Florida were under the age of 25.
- One out of every 33 persons with a reportable STD in Florida is co-infected with HIV.
- An estimated one in five Americans have genital herpes infection and up to 90 percent of them don't even know they have it.
- Floridians between the ages of 15 and 24 represented only 13 percent of Florida's population in 2011, but accounted for 70 percent of reported cases of Chlamydia infections.
- Gonorrhea rates for 15 to 24 year olds are at least twice as high as any groups over age 25
- 40 percent of older adolescents surveyed incorrectly believe that the contraceptive "pill" and "shot" protect against STDs and HIV.
- Some young people, including those who have had abstinence education, consider oral and anal sex to be abstinent behaviors and do not realize these behaviors present risks to STD transmission.
Don't be in the dark about your health. Talk to your partner and health care provider about risk factors and safer sex methods to reduce your changes of getting an STD. Make an appointment for STD testing and step into the light!