HIV/AIDS has been a menace in the last two decades. Multiple lives have been lost and children left as orphans due to these diseases. One of the major causes for increased transmission of sexually transmitted diseases is unsafe sex. Young couples, especially those that are not committed in their relationships, ought to make sure that they use condoms to prevent transmission of STI’s. One of the alternatives for doing so is through the distribution of condoms to public schools, especially colleges and universities. Young people with access to condoms are more likely to use protection while having sex than those without such access.
Education forums and campaigns can be organized in local churches and schools. The campaigns should invite young people and educate them on
the risks of sexually active behavior and the requisite control procedures that should be used. Furthermore, similar programs can be organized in schools or be included in the school curriculum. Parents may also require training on the need to ensure they communicate with their children about their sexual behavior. Parents can then get the courage to communicate with their children about risky sexual behavior and the ways of enjoying sex safely.
Another way of reducing STI’s is through advocating for abstinence among non- married couples. Religious groups advocate for this as the best way of maintaining chastity among young people. Furthermore, married couples ought to remain faithful to one another. Through living according to these principles, it is possible to control the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases. National advertisements on the risks of sexual promiscuity and the alternatives available will also go a long way in controlling the proliferation in sexually transmitted diseases.
Drug abuse has a vital role to play in the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Drug abusers who use needles to for intravenous injections are at a risk of infecting one another with diseases such as HIV/AIDS. The society should be taught to appreciate that abusing hard drugs such as cocaine may also affect physical capabilities of one’s body while posing health risks as well. Hospitals in some poor societies reuse syringes. However, effort is being made to enlighten nurses and other health workers of the need to always use new needles and to sterilize any objects used on a patient before reuse on another. Sufficient care ought to be taken in the transfusion of blood. This means that prior to acceptance of blood for purposes of donations it is necessary for such blood to be thoroughly screened. Health workers ought to be given vigorous seminars to enlighten them on the sensitivity of their professions and the ethical and technical standards that they ought to adhere to in order to ensure that they curb incidents of patient-to-patient transmission of HIV/AIDS (Stanberry & Rosenthal, 2013).
Marriage partners may undertake counseling sessions to help solve disagreements. In other cases, it is better for couples to break up than for one party to cheat on the other and hence pose a serious health risk of STI infections. They also ought to go for voluntary testing and counseling services. This helps to promote faith in each other while also reducing any doubts that may exist as far as one’s HIV status is concerned. The public should also be constantly reminded of how drug abuse may affect the ability to make conscious decisions. Some sexual incidents, such as engaging in unsafe sex with prostitutes are attributable to drug abuse.
References
Stanberry, L. R., & Rosenthal, S. N. (2013). Sexually transmitted diseases: Vaccines, prevention
and control. London: Academic Press.
