My own personal thoughts on STDs is that any man or woman who is having sex has a chance of contracting a STD and that certain behaviors can contribute to a person of having a higher risk of getting a STD. Some contributors of having a higher risk of contracting an STD can be associated with immorality, being promiscuous, and having a low social status. I tend to think that each person has their own sets of morals and values and this makes up the behaviors in which an individual behaves in. Peoples morals and beliefs typically stem largely from social, culture, and religious beliefs and are the stepping stones in which an individual behaves. If a person is taught about safe sex, waiting till marriage, and that sex should be a personal and informative decision then a person is more likely to wait to have sex, and incorporate safer sex when that individual is ready to engage in sexual activity. Being promiscuous is also another factor that can increase a person’s risk of contracting a STD. Women and men who engage in sex with multiple partners increase their risks of getting an STD, as well as in having unprotected sex. Realistically many couples don’t use condoms or use other protective measures that aid in preventing pregnancy and STDs. These negative behaviors only add to the increase of newly infected people each year. Another factor that does not help in one’s favor of their potential risk of an STD is low social status because they do not have the resources or education that can help aid them in prevention. Knowledge is power and unfortunately many people don’t know about the health risks that are associated with unsafe sex practices until it is too late. Being properly educated about STDs, how they are contracted, and how to prevent them are great ways for people to lower their risk of getting STDs. Unfortunately even knowledge about STDs and the harmful consequences that are associated with them will not enable more people to engage in safer sex practices but instead may have the opposite affect on people because so many people believe that getting a STD can’t happen to them. There are also many factors that make certain ethnicity's, age groups, and regions around the world at risk to have higher STD rates but using protection, making informative decisions, and access to education on STDs will help lower more people from being infected and hopefully reduce your risk of contracting a STD. Remember knowledge is power!
-Brittany LeBron
Brittany,
ReplyDeleteYou make excellent points about the importance of resources and education. Often we think someone has been taught and understands what we understand, but there are many who never hear the information or hear it at a time when they are unable to absorb its meaning. Also, I think the media must take a step in encouraging better behavior on television programs. Many people accept the presentation of behavior on television as the acceptable and normal behavior this can confuse the factual information they may receive in school or from parents.
Brittany,
ReplyDeleteI think that having a STD does not necessarily put you into a certain category. I young woman (or young man) that has waited to have sex could fall in love, and be deceived by his or her lover. It only takes one encounter with one person for a very negative consequence to occur. I kept thinking that the whole chapter of our
book dealt with ways to avoid, manage, or live with STD's. However, although the benefits of a monogomous relationship and abstinence were noted, any change of sexual practice was not suggested. As others have noted, as long as casual, numerous, and risky sex is promoted by the media, and not discouraged, even education cannot always prevent the negative consequences.
Thank you,
Amy Hicks