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RUNNING HEADER: WHY ARE ADOLESCENTS MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO STDS?
Why are Adolescents more Susceptible to STDs?
Andrea Espinoza, Crystal Rosales, Sylvie Lenge, & Yohana Haile
NR 222: Health and Wellness
Professor King: August 2020
This study source was downloaded by 100000857546843 from CourseHero.com on 02-08-2023 13:17:23 GMT -06:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/69083313/Week-5-RUAdocx/
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WHY ARE ADOLESCENTS MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO STDS?
Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) are
one of the most common and avoidable health concerns we face in the United States. These cases
are a focus for Healthy People 2020 as adolescents and young adults have been identified to be
particularly susceptible to contracting STIs. There are many reasons for this demographic to have
high STD cases. One reason is the possibility of there being a lack of knowledge and
comprehension of the importance and seriousness proven by statistics. Along with this
circumstance, it is also evident that young people may not explore alternative options on how to
protect themselves and have healthy sexual relationships. Additionally, this essay also is intended
to point out and guide the youth to credible and educational resources to make well-informed life
decisions.
Statistically, one of the things that STI diagnoses are tied to is income. 14.7% of lower-
class youth have been diagnosed with an STD, compared to the 5.2% of upper-class youth; a
trend has been observed in all racial and ethnic groups that the risk of contracting an STI
decreases as income increases (Harling, Subramanian, Bärnighausen, & Kawachi, 2013). Most
importantly, there are false assumptions parents and guardians have about this age range being
involved in sexual interactions. Statistics verifies this theory to be untrue. A survey of high
schoolers found that 47% admitted to being sexually active, 41% did not use a condom the last
time they had sex, and 15% have had 4 or more sexual partners so far. In addition, only 22% of
sexually active teens have been tested for HIV; gay and bisexual males between 13-24 accounted
for 72% of new HIV cases. Finally, the survey also said that almost half of the 20 million new
STD cases each year in the U.S occur in patients between 15-24 and that 1 in 4 sexually active
teenagers contract an STD before reaching adulthood (STD Statistics, 2016).
This study source was downloaded by 100000857546843 from CourseHero.com on 02-08-2023 13:17:23 GMT -06:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/69083313/Week-5-RUAdocx/
RUNNING HEADER: WHY ARE ADOLESCENTS MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO STDS?
Why are Adolescents more Susceptible to STDs?
Andrea Espinoza, Crystal Rosales, Sylvie Lenge, & Yohana Haile
NR 222: Health and Wellness
Professor King: August 2020
This study source was downloaded by 100000857546843 from CourseHero.com on 02-08-2023 13:17:23 GMT -06:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/69083313/Week-5-RUAdocx/
, 2
WHY ARE ADOLESCENTS MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO STDS?
Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) are
one of the most common and avoidable health concerns we face in the United States. These cases
are a focus for Healthy People 2020 as adolescents and young adults have been identified to be
particularly susceptible to contracting STIs. There are many reasons for this demographic to have
high STD cases. One reason is the possibility of there being a lack of knowledge and
comprehension of the importance and seriousness proven by statistics. Along with this
circumstance, it is also evident that young people may not explore alternative options on how to
protect themselves and have healthy sexual relationships. Additionally, this essay also is intended
to point out and guide the youth to credible and educational resources to make well-informed life
decisions.
Statistically, one of the things that STI diagnoses are tied to is income. 14.7% of lower-
class youth have been diagnosed with an STD, compared to the 5.2% of upper-class youth; a
trend has been observed in all racial and ethnic groups that the risk of contracting an STI
decreases as income increases (Harling, Subramanian, Bärnighausen, & Kawachi, 2013). Most
importantly, there are false assumptions parents and guardians have about this age range being
involved in sexual interactions. Statistics verifies this theory to be untrue. A survey of high
schoolers found that 47% admitted to being sexually active, 41% did not use a condom the last
time they had sex, and 15% have had 4 or more sexual partners so far. In addition, only 22% of
sexually active teens have been tested for HIV; gay and bisexual males between 13-24 accounted
for 72% of new HIV cases. Finally, the survey also said that almost half of the 20 million new
STD cases each year in the U.S occur in patients between 15-24 and that 1 in 4 sexually active
teenagers contract an STD before reaching adulthood (STD Statistics, 2016).
This study source was downloaded by 100000857546843 from CourseHero.com on 02-08-2023 13:17:23 GMT -06:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/69083313/Week-5-RUAdocx/
