Adolescent Sexual Development and Sexually Transmittted Infections
Journal Title: International STD Research & Reviews - Year 2016, Vol 4, Issue 3
Abstract
Sexually transmitted infections are those that are contracted solely through sexual intercourse with an infected partner or person. This group of infections includes syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, herpes simplex, Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) and hepatitis B infections. Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) is one of the most common diseases affecting about one million persons daily worldwide. This makes its annual incidence fourth to diarrheal diseases, malaria and lower respiratory tract infection in which adolescents have the highest rates recorded. This higher rate may be a reflection of some loop holes in the accessibility and quality of STI services made available to adolescents. It may also include lack of/inadequate fund, discomfort with facilities and care providers, concerns about confidentiality, lack of youth friendly services to mention but a few. This will result in untreated or poorly treated STIs which have a lot of associated complications ranging from epididymitis to infertility in males, dyspareunia to abortions, stillbirths, perinatal and neonatal deaths in females resulting into poor and/or unhealthy future reproductive health lives. Unsafe/ unprotected sexual activity in adolescents is not only complicated by STIs, others include early motherhood, school dropout, complications of unsafe abortions and pregnancy in females and the psychological and health complications in both sexes. Although, intervention efforts targeting individual effort associated with STIs prevention and treatment have been implemented in the time past but these interventions do not still address important factors such as peer norms and media influences which may be due to the fact that adolescent sexual and reproductive health have been neglected for some time now. But if a healthy future is anticipated, sex education, contraception and STI services for adolescents needs to be addressed as the age of sexual maturity and that at which sexual relations become legitimate has widened.
Authors and Affiliations
Adebisi Temitayo Moyosore
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP242793
- DOI 10.9734/ISRR/2016/28631
- Views 174
- Downloads 0
Knowledge, Attitude and the Use of Patient Package Inserts: Perspectives on Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy
Introduction: Patient package insert is an innovative tool capable of providing additional medication information in written form; it has the potential to promote adherence to antiretroviral medicines. Objectives: This s...
Advancing Hepatitis B Virus Testing in Prospective Blood Donors Beyond Current Single Marker Rapid Technique: Is it a Luxury or Necessity?
Blood transfusion service comes with its various risks which include transfusion of transmissible infections especially hepatitis B. Though Nigeria is noted as a high endemic region for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection,...
A Cost-effectiveness Study of the Quadrivalent HPV6/11/16/18 Vaccination in a Two-dose Scheme in Girls of 9-11 Years Old Compared to Bivalent HPV 16/18 Vaccination in Ecuador and Challenges for Public Health and Screening
Aims: Assess the incremental cost-effectiveness of the quadrivalent HPV6/11/16/18 vaccination as administered in a two-dose scheme to girls between 9 and 11 years old, as compared to the bivalent HPV 16/18 vaccination ad...
Knowledge and Perception of Sexual Health Education and Condom Use among STI Patients in India
Aims: To explore the knowledge of STI, HIV/AIDS and condom use behaviour among men and women who have been medically treated and not treated for STIs in relation to socio-demographic factors. Furthermore, the study will...
Correlates of Secret Multiple Partnership within Stable Relationships, Sex Differentials and HIV Risk amongst Tiv People of North Central Nigeria
Background: Despite the consensus in both the developing and developed countries that concurrent multiple sexual relationship is unsafe sexual behaviours; gaps exist in knowledge with regard to the dynamics of secret mul...