Cases of sexually transmitted diseases are getting more frequent across the St. Louis area, most notably among teenagers and young adults.
A recent study shows that the number of chlamydia cases in the city of St. Louis climbed from 3,206 in 2002 to 4,581 in 2006. Of those cases, 41 percent were people 15 to 19 years old.
Meanwhile, in the St. Louis County, 7,100 residents were diagnosed in 2006 with either chlamydia or gonorrhea, up from 4,821 in 2002. About 70 percent of them were 15 to 24 years old. The two diseases account for almost two-thirds of all communicable diseases that were reported in the county, even more than common ailments such as influenza and chicken pox.
In that same study, 90 percent of chlamydia and gonorrhea cases in St. Louis area are African-American, which worried health officials. Minority youths are among those with the highest risk of getting a sexually transmitted disease.
Left untreated, chlamydia and gonorrhea can lead to infertility and other complications. And when the rates of various STDs such gonorrhea or syphilis begin to rise, an increase in HIV cases is also likely to rise. In 2006, 57 people between ages 13 and 24 were diagnosed with HIV in the St Louis region.
Many teenagers and young adults think that they are immune from the infections that strike others. They may think, "I’m head cheerleader; That doesn’t happen to cheerleaders."
According to a 2005 survey, nearly half of high school teenagers in the state of Missouri have had sex, and one-third say they are sexually active. However, only two-thirds of those sexually-active teens said they had a condom during their last intercourse.
Young women, who make up the majority of cases of chlamydia and gonorrhea, often tell health care worker that they do not feel as if they have a choice about using protection against sexually transmitted disease. Teenagers often do not know how to broach the subject of a partner’s sexual history or how to negotiate condom use. There are some instances that they don’t know their partner well enough to even ask.
A majority of students in the St. Louis area leave high school having never had a comprehensive sex education class. For many, the only guidance is a week or two of instruction during a health class. Meanwhile, education at home doesn’t help much either. Parents often do not have the vocabulary to talk to their children about sex, and hiding behind innuendo and vague terms doesn’t help either. Even doctors feel that talking about sex, especially with their young patients, is a bad thing.
People are becoming clueless about how to protect themselves.
In solution to this, an STD program in Philadelphia suggests that intensive screening and education can reduce the number of STDs in high school students. This CDC-funded (Center for Disease Control) initiative started in 2002 where routine screenings for chlamydia and gonorrhea in all public high schools, public health clinics, and correctional facilities, were required. During the next three years, the prevalence of the chlamydia dropped a significant 24 percent among high school students.
The St. Louis County Health Department also instituted routine screening for STDs in the county jail and its public health clinic. The prevalence of the two diseases among men entering the county jail has fallen significantly since testing began in 2004. However, the improvement among women tested remained flat.
Posted in
Thanks a million. It is interesting hearing
The new Zune browser is surprisingly good, but not as good as the iPod’s. It works well, but isn’t as fast as Safari, and has a clunkier interface. If you occasionally plan on using the web browser that’s not an issue, but if you’re planning to browse the web alot from your PMP then the iPod’s larger screen and better browser may be important.
I did not understand your second paragraph in any way. What don’t you mean by that? This is an interesting topic with luck so I want to understand everything you must say. I became not able to find a number of other articles during my search although I will be not very computer literate so that may be why. I hope to see you offer more frequently.
Thanks man. That was cool knowing
Hello from Russia! Will it be possible for me to quote a submit as part of your weblog with the url to you? I’ve tried contacting you concerning this problem but it seems i cant reach you, please response when possess a moment, thanks.
I’ve recently started a blog, the knowledge you provide on this site has solved the problem tremendously. Thank you for your entire time & work…
Great post, thank you. Can you explain on the 2nd paragraph in a little more detail please?
Very Nice website. I recently built mine and i was looking for some design ideas and you gave me a few. May i ask you whether you developed the website by youself?
Thanks
Thank you for the tips. tt helped me a lot.Paris turf
Wonderful site! realy thank you for sharing your knowledge with us! Hope to read more from you!
I have already been searching about this at a handful of other web pages, but you really expained this better. Many thanks!
Is it that easy? I’ve heard you need to workout for hours and follow different kinds of diet charts and nutrient charts and work out charts?????
Great article once again. Thank you!Parier en ligne
Thanks mate. Nice site you have here. Got some more sites to direct to with a bit more information?
I would like to thank you for the time you have made in composing this blog post. I am hoping the same best work from you in the upcoming as well. In fact your creative writing skill has inspired me to get my own blog now. Really the blogging is spreading its wings rapidly. Your write up is a good example of it.
Is there any way that I can join this author’s fan club? Someone please e-mail me if you know how.
Surprisingly! It’s like you read my mind! You seem to know so much about this, just like you wrote the book in it or something. I think that you can do with some images to drive the content home a bit, but other than that, this is wonderful blog. A outstanding read. I’ll certainly revisit again.
Thankx so much for this! I havent been this thrilled by a blog for a long time! You have got it, whatever that means in blogging. Well, You are certainly somebody that has something to say that people need to hear. Keep up the good job. Keep on inspiring the people!
Hello ok Jim ,I am supposed to be a tea fanatic, absolutely love the aroma & the flavor of tea as the very first thing after getting up. I sip atleast nine cups every day. By the way wonderful blog, Have a great day.
Im not going to say what everyone else has already said, but I do want to comment on your knowledge of the topic. Youre truly well-informed. I cant believe how much of this I just wasnt aware of. Thank you for bringing more information to this topic for me. Im truly grateful and really impressed.
Acai berry Berry Diet plan is one of the successful plan for weight loss.
Thank you so much you guys are making a difference in the health of america
this is by far the best looking site I’ve seen. It was completely easy to navigate and it was easy to look for the information I needed. Fantastic layout and great website!
What I wouldnt give to learn how you got your design to be so amazing! I mean it. Besides the blog just being awesome, this page is too sweet! Its not too flashy. It doesnt do too much with colours and things and the videos you use are perfect for this topic! Really, awesome blog.
I have seen a lot of blogs but i really like the layout of yours. Keep up the good work my friend.
It’s rare for me to discover something on the internet that’s as entertaining and fascinating as what you’ve got here. Your page is lovely, your graphics are great, and what’s more, you use reference that are relevant to what you are saying. You’re definitely one in a million, good job!
If I might –perhaps you should consider adding a few images. I dont mean to disrespect what youve said; its very enlightening, indeed. However, I think would respond to it more positively if they could be something tangible to your ideas. Keep it up, but put a little more into it next time.
Your current posts constantly have a lot of really up to date info. Where do you come up with this? Just saying you are very imaginative. Thanks again
Thanks for sharing this fine post. Very inspiring! (as always, btw)
pretty useful stuff, overall I imagine this is worthy of a bookmark, thanks
This is a good posting, I was wondering if I could use this write-up on my website, I will link it back to your website though. If this is a problem please let me know and I will take it down right away
Ya i have listened about payday loans, it’s a great way to get loans .It’s nice service.
I found so many interesting stuff in your blog especially its discussion. From the tons of comments on your articles, I guess I am not the only one having all the enjoyment here! keep up the good work.
You can use reverse phone directory lookup and free people search to find owners names and addresses.
Hello – I must say, I’m impressed with your site. I had no trouble navigating through all the tabs and information was very easy to access. I found what I wanted in no time at all. Pretty awesome. Would appreciate it if you add forums or something, it would be a perfect way for your clients to interact. Great job
I like this article very much. I will certainly be back. Hope that I will be able to read more informative posts then. Will be sharing your knowledge with all of my friends!
Hello – I must say, I’m impressed with your site. I had no trouble navigating through all the tabs and information was very easy to access. I found what I wanted in no time at all. Pretty awesome. Would appreciate it if you add forums or something, it would be a perfect way for your clients to interact. Great job
Whats up, I was just browsing some sites and I stumbled to your webpage from bing. I read a few of your articles and think they were pretty good. Thanks, I will come back to your website soon.
I was very glad to locate this site on google.I wished to say many thanks to you with regard to this fantastic read!! I undoubtedlyappreciated every little bit of it and I’ve you bookmarked to look into new stuff you post.
Hello – I must say, I’m impressed with your site. I had no trouble navigating through all the tabs and information was very easy to access. I found what I wanted in no time at all. Pretty awesome. Would appreciate it if you add forums or something, it would be a perfect way for your clients to interact. Great job
Youre so awesome, man! I cant believe I missed this blog for so long. Its just great stuff all round. Your design, man…too amazing! I cant wait to read what youve got next. I love everything that youre saying and want more, more, MORE! Keep this up, man! Its just too good.
Congratulations on having one of the most sophisticated blogs Ive come across in some time! Its just incredible how much you can take away from something simply because of how visually beautiful it is. Youve put together a great blog space –great graphics, videos, layout. This is definitely a must-see blog!
One of the more impressive blogs Ive seen. Thanks so much for keeping the internet classy for a change. Youve got style, class, bravado. I mean it. Please keep it up because without the internet is definitely lacking in intelligence.
What are you saying, man? I know everyones got their own view, but really? Listen, your weblog is cool. I like the efforts you put into it, especially with the vids and the pics. But, come on. Theres gotta be a better way to say this, a way that doesnt make it seem like most people here is stupid!
I hope you never stop! This is one of the best blogs Ive ever read. Youve got some mad skill here, man. I just hope that you dont lose your style because youre definitely one of the coolest bloggers out there. Please keep it up because the internet needs someone like you spreading the word.
Hello – I must say, I’m impressed with your site. I had no trouble navigating through all the tabs and information was very easy to access. I found what I wanted in no time at all. Pretty awesome. Would appreciate it if you add forums or something, it would be a perfect way for your clients to interact. Great job
I was very delighted to discover this site on google.I wished to say thanks to you with regard to this superb article!! I certainlyappreciated every little bit of it and I’ve you bookmarked to take a look at new stuff you post.
It’s not that I want to replicate your web-site, but I really like the design. Could you let me know which design are you using? Or was it custom made?
pretty helpful material, overall I consider this is worth a bookmark, thanks
Ha ha… I was just online around and took a glimpse at these remarks. I can’t believe there’s still this much attention. Thanks for crafting articles about this.