 |
Sitemap | Contact Us | Home |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| News |
| POSITION STATEMENTS > Race, Ethnicity, and Sexually Transmitted Diseases |
 |
|
African American and Hispanic communities are disproportionately affected by sexually transmitted diseases (STD), and the American Social Health Association (ASHA) believes the STD epidemic in communities of color requires the development of effectively targeted national prevention strategies. Sexually transmitted diseases are fueled by poverty, lack of access to health care, distrust of health systems, inadequate resources, and myriad other social factors and inequities. The coexistence of STDs with other social problems, including unemployment, teenage pregnancy, drug use/distribution and violence often impedes attempts to provide services, particularly since these other problems are often perceived as more compelling than sexual health issues. The complexity of this problem is exacerbated by our national discomfort in discussing both race and the stigma associated with STDs. Yet the data suggest action is needed:
Involve all racial/ethnic communities in STD prevention. including planning, developing, implementing and evaluating programs. Develop culturally competent/sensitive and linguistically appropriate behavioral interventions for STD and HIV prevention in minority communities. Integrate STD prevention with other relevant programs through which the affected population has been successfully reached. Identify methods to overcome potential reporting bias, including increased and improved enforcement of mandatory reporting requirements by private providers to assist in alleviating reporting bias. For additional information on sexual health and people of color please visit the following sites: Minority Health and Health Disparities Office of Minority Health Resource Center http://www.cdc.gov/omh/ Department of Health and Human Services http://www.os.dhhs.gov/specificpopulations/index.shtml#ethnic CDC Office of the Associate Director for Minority Health http://www.cdc.gov/od/admh/intro.htm US Dept. of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health http://www.hrsa.gov/OMH/OMH/main1_overview.HTM National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities http://ncmhd.nih.gov/508/ Sexual Health The American Social Health Association www.ashastd.org www.iwannaknow.org (for teens) The Sexuality Information & Education Council of the United States http://www.siecus.com/ Association of Reproductive Health Professionals http://www.arhp.org/ American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists http://www.acog.com/ Planned Parenthood Federation of American http://www.plannedparenthood.org/ Tuskegee Syphilis Study Tuskegee University National Center for Bioethics in Research and Health Care http://www.tuskegee.edu/bioethics CDC Tuskegee Syphilis Study Page http://www.cdc.gov/nchstp/od/tuskegee/index.html The Tuskegee Syphilis Study Legacy Report http://hsc.virginia.edu/hs-library/historical/apology/report.html *The provision of website links on this page are provided for information purposes only. The list should not be viewed as comprehensive, and is not necessarily an endorsement of any particular organization. |
| Need information about?... • Donating to ASHA • STI Hotline • Herpes Newsletter • HPV Newsletter • Teen Sexual Health • Talking to Your Kids • ASHA's eNewsletter • Links to Related Sites • Advertising on this site • State STD Prevention • STI Message Board |
 |
 |
| Sponsorship|Advertising | Copyrights, Site Use & Privacy Statements |
