In 2013 the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that half of all new sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) were among youth ages 15 to 24. According to the CDC, “1 in 4 sexually active adolescent females have an STD.” HIV rates among adolescents have decreased over the years, but males ages 13 to 19 still account for approximately 80% of new HIV cases in 2010. Even though cases of chlamydia and gonorrhea have also decreased, these two STDs are still the highest among adolescents. The CDC discovered through a 2013 survey, that 47% of high school students in the United Sates (U.S.) had sexual intercourse at least once, 34% were currently sexually active, 15% already had 2 or more sexual partners, and only 13% of high school
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Of course with any health disparity those mostly affected are the disadvantaged and poor populations. Like any illness, poverty is an economic factor because it prevents people who are infected from seeking health care and prohibit those, who are not infected, from accessing preventable care and resources. A biological factor includes a person who is infected with an STD, but they lack symptoms. In some cases, symptoms may be expressed but are not severe and they can go unnoticed. This is can be a reason why someone who is infected may not seek treatment and spread the disease unknowingly.
Other social and behavioral factors associated with STD and adolescents is secrecy of sexuality and sexual networks (Healthy People 2020, 2014). Most adolescents can feel embarrassed about sharing their sexuality, with fear of being stigmatized or judged within their social and communal settings. This can also encourage adolescents to not seek medical attention or not be honest with sexual partners. Adolescents who start having sex at an early age are more likely to have more sexual partners. More partners put them at higher risk for STD’s and can potentially lead to engaging in sexual
Of course with any health disparity those mostly affected are the disadvantaged and poor populations. Like any illness, poverty is an economic factor because it prevents people who are infected from seeking health care and prohibit those, who are not infected, from accessing preventable care and resources. A biological factor includes a person who is infected with an STD, but they lack symptoms. In some cases, symptoms may be expressed but are not severe and they can go unnoticed. This is can be a reason why someone who is infected may not seek treatment and spread the disease unknowingly.
Other social and behavioral factors associated with STD and adolescents is secrecy of sexuality and sexual networks (Healthy People 2020, 2014). Most adolescents can feel embarrassed about sharing their sexuality, with fear of being stigmatized or judged within their social and communal settings. This can also encourage adolescents to not seek medical attention or not be honest with sexual partners. Adolescents who start having sex at an early age are more likely to have more sexual partners. More partners put them at higher risk for STD’s and can potentially lead to engaging in sexual