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STI prevention and treatment –
a priority
for those working with youth
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STI prevention and treatment are a priority for those working
with youth. Young adults are at high risk of STIs, which can
result in chronic illness, infertility or even death. Bacterial
STIs such as chlamydia and gonorrhea, both common among youth,
can be cured. But viral STIs, including HIV, cannot be cured.
Given the STI/HIV epidemic among youth, anyone who works with
youth, including family planning providers, must remember the
urgent need for effective STI/HIV prevention strategies.
Special attention needs to be paid to young women, since HIV
rates are increasing most rapidly among this group. Counseling
about prevention can help all youth avoid infection. Good counseling
includes discussions of symptoms of STIs, risk factors for infection,
safe sexual behaviors and condom use. Where HIV infection rates
are high, voluntary counseling and testing is important to educate
youth and reduce the risk of infection in the community. Diagnosing
and treating STIs may require referral to a clinic specializing
in STIs.
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