Introduction:
The Chlamydia has been reported to be the most common sexual transmitted disease in the United States of America. It is most common among the sexually active people who include the young adults and the adolescent. State reports and surveys have revealed that from two to twenty percent of this age group have contracted this disease. The female adolescents have been noted to be having the highest rate of infection of this disease. In general, the young adults and adolescents who are infected with this disease result to a total of 4%. The black Americans are also noted to be having a high percentage considering their high rate of unemployment and poverty. Technically, this sexually transmitted disease is noted to have high rates in areas and families which have economically deprived backgrounds (Kraut & Kraut 45). Hence, the problem to be discussed is the increased transmission rate of Chlamydia among the young adults and the adolescents.
Chlamydia in the United States of America is a sexually transmitted disease which is of bacterial nature. It is normally spread by vaginal, anal or oral intercourse. The disease is hard to detect hence known as the silent disease. This is due to the fact that three quarter of the women and half of the men who are infected do not show any signs and symptoms of the disease. These facts are according to the CDC. The disease can be cured through the use of antibiotics once it is detected. The best thing about the disease is that it can be diagnosed by the use of urine specimen.
Community:
The community under survey is the Newark, New Jersey. This is an urban community with a population of approximately 19,440 African Americans and around 15,315 Hispanics. The town has five wards which include the North, East, South, Central and West wards. The community is noticed to have an alarming rate of high school dropouts and increased teenage pregnancies. This is due to the culture that is being adopted in the town promoting fornication and laziness of the youth. As one passes by the high school in the area, it could be noted that small groups of teenagers would be seen hanging outside the school compound. It does not matter whether classes are on-going. In the group of children, one cannot help but notice that there exists more than one teenage girl who may be pregnant, hence, showing the sexual activeness of the teenagers in Newark. Next to Barringer High School, it could be noted that there is a liquor store just a block away. Police cars could be noticed to be periodically patrolling the whole community in order to ensure that security is maintained.
With these observations, it could be noticed that the community has an increased number of teenagers and youths as opposed to the adults. The youths and teenagers of the community are observed to be sexually active due the high number of cases associated with teenage pregnancies. With these in perspective, there is a high probability that the spread of Chlamydia is very high. As the disease is sexually transmitted, most of the teenagers and the youths of the community have been exposed to it in one or another. A high rate of school dropout is experienced in the community leading to an increase in sexual activeness of the teenagers due to their idleness. With increased school dropout levels, prostitution is seen to be on the rise coupled up with drug use among the females, hence increasing possible transmission of the disease faster.
Chlamydia in adolescents and young adults in my community, Newark, NJ
The city of Newark is the largest city in the New Jersey state of the US. In the 2010 census, it was estimated to have 277, 140 people. This was an increment in population form 273,546 in 200The city is regarded as one of the most populous municipalities in the United States of America. The city in New Jersey is racially diverse putting together people from different races. It is characterized mostly blacks, non-Hispanic whites and Latinos.
Newark city is made up of four hospitals with the University Hospital which is also a teaching institution is the busiest hospital. Newark Beth Israel Medical Centre is considered the largest. It also has Children’s Hospital of New Jersey which mainly deals with the healthcare of babies. The University Hospital is has a section of emergency medical services dealing with urgent cases.
The city has a high population, but considering the number of health centers available are small to accommodate people at a time. The high population and school drop outs due to cases such as pregnancy have contributed to high rate of unemployment (Chase 23). This has facilitated consistent poverty in the community. Women and young adults have even been forced to get involved in prostitution. The availability of poor healthcare provision and lack of health preventative or wellness plan, have contributed to the health problems facing the city. Chlamydia has been a major problem among the adolescents and young adults.
Windshield Survey
Preventive measure are expected to be in place in such an area, however three hospitals have been closed in Newark meaning access to health practitioners is limited considering the population of the area. The Newark Health Department is crowded with young mothers and multiple kids. Notably, Newark is associated with a number of social problems. Regarding this research, the delivery of health services is low with under-utilized health resources and lack of preventive or wellness care. Poor healthcare contributed to having Chlamydia as a major health complication among the adolescents and young adults. The condition has also been accelerated by high unemployment and poverty leading to prostitution.
Problem
Among the problems facing the people of Newark, poor healthcare stands out as a major issue. Poor healthcare in the community is characterized with under-utilized health resources and lack of preventive or wellness care. All these are linked to the high unemployment rate leading to low living standards. Young adults and adolescents participate in prostitution regardless of the risk of Chlamydia and other sexually transmitted diseases.
There is no preventive or wellness care plan that is in place considering the same. Women are crowded in the Health Department of Newark with several kids, probably born out of prostitution. Three hospitals have been closed, hence poor healthcare provision. The consumption of alcohol and drugs has been observed in the area. Drugs and alcohol hinder the objectives of health people as well as the lack of preventive or wellness care plan. People the Newark community have long been facing a number of social challenges healthcare being one of them. These social problems are due to the fact that Newark is the largest city in the New Jersey state of the US by population.
References
Chase, S. M. (2011). Surviving HIV/AIDS in the inner city: How resourceful Latinas beat the odds. New Brunswick, N.J: Rutgers University Press.
Kraut, A. M., & Kraut, D. A. (2007). Covenant of care: Newark Beth Israel and the Jewish Hospital in America. New Brunswick, N.J: Rutgers University Press.
Mårdh, P. -A., Paavonen, J., & Puolakkainen, M. (1989). Chlamydia. Boston, MA: Springer US.
