Posted: October 6th, 2022

PH10-4-Public Health Communications

Sexually Transmitted Diseases

November 7, 2020

Volume 1 Issue 1

Assignment 1 Public Health Communications

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

1. History of Sexually Transmitted Diseases

2. Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Prevention

3. Role of Health Professionals

Impact of Globalization

4. Environmental Factors

Communication Strategies

5. References

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) have been present globally for centuries (Baker, n.d.; Suthar, n.d.; Tampa, Sarbu, Matei, Benea, & Georgescu, 2014; Worboys, 2019). Gonorrhea and Syphilis both were discovered very early in history and were being treated by many different methods in an attempt to find the cure (Baker, n.d.; Suthar, n.d.; Tampa, et al., 2014; Worboys, 2019). Chlamydia became an issue in the 1900s and has been the most commonly reported sexually transmitted disease for decades (Worboys, 2019). The antibiotic penicillin helped to change the way STDs were viewed because there was finally a treatment that worked without the pain and inconvenience of the older, traditional methods that often did not work (Baker, n.d.; Suthar, n.d.; Tampa, et al., 2014; Worboys, 2019). Once a treatment was created, those who were sexually active felt more at ease until the 1970s when the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) appeared in the United States (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2020a). HIV cases flooded the America with the infection rate well over the hundreds of thousands each year (CDC, 2020a). A cure has still not been discovered but there are effective prevention measures that can be used (CDC, 2020a).

History of Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Primary prevention is extremely important when discussing STDs because this type of prevention is sometimes the only way to stop an infection (Kisling & Das, 2020). Condom usage is a necessary method in preventing the spread of STDs as they stop bodily fluid that would infect a partner from entering the body (United States Agency for International Development [USAID], 2015). If used correctly, it can be up to 90% effective (USAID, 2015). For those who live high-risk lifestyles and are more likely to be infected with HIV, the pre-exposure prophylaxis, PrEP, should be taken on a regular basis (CDC, 2020b). PrEP is a daily pill that blocks HIV infection by stopping it on a cellular level (CDC, 2020b). Studies have shown that it is 99% effective against STD infections (CDC, 2020b).

Secondary and tertiary prevention are interconnected for STDs in some ways (Kisling & Das, 2020). The secondary prevention portion involves those who are sexually active to have routine screenings performed to make sure they detect any infections as early as possible (CDC, 2019). The earlier that an STD is detected the less likely serious symptoms and long-term issues will occur and more likely a cure can be given (CDC, 2019). This is where the tertiary prevention comes into play depending on the outcomes of the severity of the disease and what stage it is in (Kisling & Das, 2020). For example, a person who has been detected in the early stages of HIV could start treatment immediately and have a better chance of living a healthier life undetectable than if they were detected at a later time (CDC, 2020a). Tertiary prevention works to make the best possible life for the patients by reducing the symptoms of the disease (Kisling & Das, 2020).

Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Prevention
“Condom-usage can be up 90% effective, if used correctly (USAID, 2015).

When taken as directed, PrEP is 99% effective (CDC, 2020b).”

Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Student Travel: A Q+A with Dr. William Siegart | On Call International Blog Sexually Transmitted Diseases | Travelers’ Health | CDC

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Health professionals need to make sure that there is awareness about the current rise of STDs in America (CDC, 2018; CDC, 2019). Education is the key to prevention and understanding the seriousness of the situation (CDC, 2019). Organizations, such as the American Sexually Transmitted Diseases Association (ASTDA), work with health professionals and academia to bridge the knowledge gap about what is being researched and how this could help health professionals moving forward with patient care and awareness (American Sexually Transmitted Diseases Association [ASTDA], 2020). This biggest need for health professionals to help with a change is in the health insurance side of treatment for STDs. Right now, if a patient was tested with an assay that detected the organisms and resistance markers, reimbursement would only apply to the detection portion which is not enough money for laboratories to justify using a dual test even though it means faster results and better treatment for patients. Health professionals need to educate other health professionals about this and advocate for either better health insurance reimbursements or that the importance of these tests outweigh the costs (CDC, 2019).

Role of Health Professionals

Sexually Transmitted Diseases | Travelers’ Health | CDC

“As more people travel throughout the world and it becomes common to do so, STDs are passed between partners who are sexually active as they travel (Shahmanesh et al., 2000).”

Globalization has had a huge effect on the rates of STDs throughout the years (Shahmanesh, Shahmanesh, & Miller, 2000). Those living low socioeconomic or high-risk lifestyles often have a higher rate of STDs which continues to increase (Shahmanesh et al., 2000). As more people travel throughout the world and it becomes common to do so, STDs are passed between partners who are sexually active as they travel (Shahmanesh et al., 2000). This also causes the organisms to spread throughout the regions and for any evolution of them to occur. This mutation creates strains of the organisms that become resistant to certain common treatment methods present in the area and can make it difficult to cure patients. The more resistance that occurs in STDs makes it even more important to focus on prevention with STDs and globalization.

Impact of Globalization
Sexually Transmitted Diseases

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Sexually Transmitted Diseases

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Communication Strategies
Socioeconomic factors greatly affect the rates of STDs in communities (Boyer, Rivera, Chiaramonte, & Ellen, 2018; Erwin & Brownson, 2017). Race, gender, employment, education, and sexual orientation are influential in the determination of STD prevalence and likelihood of infections (Boyer et al., 2018; Erwin & Brownson, 2017). African American and Hispanic populations have much higher rates of STD infections than Caucasians (Boyer et al., 2018; CDC, 2020c). This has a lot to do with the socioeconomic barriers that these populations face such as poverty, lack of education, and fear of openly admitting their sexual orientation or behaviors (Boyer et al., 2018; CDC, 2020c). Poverty can commonly be associated with lack of education which leads to lesser paying jobs (Erwin & Brownson, 2017). This can lead to depression and riskier lifestyles involving substance abuse and sexual activities (CDC, 2020c; Erwin & Brownson, 2017). These types of behaviors increase the probability for STD infections (CDC, 2020c).

It is important to explain that sexual behaviors must change in order to prevent STD infection (Boyer et al., 2018; Vega & Ghanem, 2007). Marketing campaigns that educate the public through health professional presentations, advertisements such as billboards and pamphlets, and classes that can be taken online have been provided in recent years but still the STD rates rise (CDC, 2019). Adolescents and young adults make up the highest number of those who getting new infections of STDs so effective communication to them is vital (Boyer et al., 2018; CDC, 2019). Currently, social media is the major form of communication for this age range (book). Public health professionals need to look at this as an outlet for awareness and education about the dangers of STDs and how to prevent them (Vega & Ghanem,

Environmental Factors
2007). Social media can be utilized in different ways depending on the message that the author would like to portray to the audience (Vega & Ghanem, 2007). To reach a wider number of people on Facebook (n.d.) or Instagram (2020), a profile could be made that has daily posts that are fun and educational or interactive in some way to get the message spreading. For other sites that may not have the audience that would be interested in a profile, advertisements could be placed to at least give an outlet for more information to the people on that site. Instagram and Facebook have measured insights into the reach that each post is getting and can even give the age ranges for this data (Facebook, n.d.; Instagram, 2020). Advertisement companies record the number of clicks that an advertisement gets which would be a great way to determine if the message is getting out to the public. Communication to the public has to happen in order to change sexual behaviors and decrease the rates of STDs (Vega & Ghanem, 2007).

5 little-known social media mark… – Opinion – What Mobile

American Sexually Transmitted Diseases Association (ASTDA). (2020). Retrieved from https://www.astda.org/

Baker, A. (n.d.). Gonorrhea. AustinCC. Retrieved from https://www.austincc.edu/microbio/2704w/ng.htm

Boyer, C. B., Santiago Rivera, O. J., Chiaramonte, D. M., & Ellen, J. M. (2018). Examination of Behavioral, Social, and Environmental Contextual Influences on Sexually Transmitted Infections in At Risk, Urban, Adolescents, and Young Adults. Sexually transmitted diseases, 45(8), 542–548. https://doi.org/10.1097/OLQ.0000000000000797

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2019). STD Awareness Month: Healthcare Providers. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/std/sam/talktesttreat/providers.htm

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2020a). About HIV/AIDS. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/whatishiv.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2020b). PrEP. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/prep.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2020c). Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance 2018. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/std/stats18/default.htm

Erwin, P.C. & Brownson, R.C. (2017). Scutchfield and Keck’s Principles of Public Health Practice (4th ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.

Facebook. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/

Instagram. (2020) Retrieved from https://www.instagram.com/

Kisling, L.A. & Das, J.M. (2020). Prevention Strategies. Treasure Island, FL: StatPearls Publishing.

Shahmanesh, M., Shahmanesh, M., & Miller, R. (2000). AIDS and globalization. Sexually Transmitted Infections, 76(1), 154-155. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/sti.76.3.154

Suthar, R. (n.d.). Chlamydia (STD). AustinCC. Retrieved from https://www.austincc.edu/microbio/2704q/chlam.htm

Tampa, M., Sarbu, I., Matei, C., Benea, V., & Georgescu, S. R. (2014). Brief history of syphilis. Journal of medicine and life, 7(1), 4–10. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3956094/

United States Agency for International Development (USAID). (2015). Condom Fact Sheet. Retrieved from https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1864/condomfactsheet.pdf

Vega, M.Y. & Ghanem, K.G. (2007) STD Prevention Communication: Using Social Marketing Techniques with an Eye on Behavioral Change. In: Aral S.O., Douglas J.M. (eds) Behavioral Interventions for Prevention and Control of Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-48740-3_6

Worboys, M. (2019). The Hidden Affliction: Sexually Transmitted Infections and Infertility in History. Rochester, NY: University of Rochester Press.

References
Sexually Transmitted Diseases

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