STI’s and HIV/AIDS in Adolescence

Teens and young adults are the most “at risk” of contracting a STI or HIV/AIDS. Therefore, there should be more resources available to teens that are sexually active. If teens were more aware of the specific consequences of the various STIs they would be more enticed and motivated to use protection. This issue is also very gender based. Aside from the various facts, such as, women are three times more likely to contract HIV, the issue presses deeper, into issues within society: the double standard. When it comes to sexuality, women are raised to protect their purity until marriage, while men are raised to pursue and access as much “experience” as possible. However, when conception and proper protection are presented, the most convenient solution lies within the male’s authority.  Men receive more pleasure without a condom than with one. Therefore, most men would rather not use one; by combining this lack of desired necessity and the pressure/ motive to sleep with as many women as he can, the spread of STIs and HIV are eminent.

The show, 16 and Pregnant, can do a much better job of providing more information about STIs and HIV/AIDS. Whether it be through certain commercial advertisements (through condoms, birth control, etc.), the cast members can be asked certain questions, such as “When you weren’t using a condom, besides the risk of getting pregnant, did the thought of contracting a STI or HIV ever cross either of your minds?”

Here is an article I found with six steps to help decrease the spread of STIs and HIV throughout adolescence:

http://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/migrated/child/PublicDocuments/teensti.authcheckdam.pdf


Portia K. 

The Promotion of Abstinence from a Teen Mom

I can remember back in the 6^th grade we had a class period where some lady from a sex education program came in and spoke to the class. The message that she conveyed to us students was that we should be abstinent and that we should not be focused on the opposite at this time. To a six grader that goes in one ear and out of the other one. She also spoke about pregnancy and STI’s but to a six grader, there is an illusion that will never happen to them as if they are invincible to any and everything. After listening to her lecture about sex and the do’s and don’ts, I can now say that the only thing that I can vividly remember was that she told us to practice putting on a condom by rolling up your sock in a condom shape then sliding it onto your foot as if you were putting on your sock. That really confused me at the age because her underlying message was” don’t have sex but if you do make sure you use a condom”.  What was the point of you lecturing of you lecturing me about what I may contract or the possibilities of me getting pregnant only to tell me later that it’s okay if you don’t but make sure you are safe. What happened to teaching about your self-worth and  how to save yourself for the one you will marry?

                The abstinence programs today are using figures like Bristol Palin to speak about abstinence. I found a YouTube video of her on Good Morning America and she was speaking about her situation and how the only way to prevent teen pregnancy is abstinence. The story of Bristol Palin is just as those of the girls on 16 and pregnant but besides the fact that her mother was a Senator of Alaska she still made the same decision to have sex knowing there would be a  possibility of becoming pregnant or catching a STI.  I cannot out right say that she had unprotected sex but she knew what risk she was taking. So, to me her speaking to others about abstinence would not have effect on the teen pregnancy rate nor will it stop teens from having sex. Some teens make look at her as a hypocrite because on many of her other debuts her answers are contradicting.  Here is an example of a commercial that she did that showed contradiction: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnkt_0E0zy4. Please comment on what you thought she meant by pause before you play.

  

This is the video of her interview on Good Morning America:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=banUnW8CA68

India M.