According to a March report released by the Center for Disease Control at the 2008 National STD Prevention Conference, an estimated one in four -- 26 percent -- or 3.2 million teenage girls and young women ages 14 to 19 -- are infected with at least one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases.
One in four teenage girls in the United States has a sexually transmitted disease, but local educators say information and communication are the best ways to reduce the numbers.
The most frequently occurring STDs are human papilloma virus (HPV), chlamydia, herpes simplex virus and trichomoniasis.
The study was the first of its kind to measure the prevalence of STDs among adolescent women in the United States, and provided the clearest picture of the "overall STD burden" in the demographic.
The most frequently occurring STDs are human papilloma virus (HPV), chlamydia, herpes simplex virus and trichomoniasis.
The study was the first of its kind to measure the prevalence of STDs among adolescent women in the United States, and provided the clearest picture of the "overall STD burden" in the demographic.
Locally, STDs are on the rise. Among people of all ages, males and females, the rate of chlamydia in Warren, Washington and Saratoga counties has nearly doubled since 2002, when 266 cases were reported in the three counties, according to the New York State Department of Health. In 2006, the year for which the most recent data is available, 460 cases of chlamydia were reported in the three counties.
In Warren County alone, for the year 2007, 26 cases of teenage chlamydia were reported; one was male, 25 cases were reported from females, according to Helen Stern, public nurse for Warren County. One explanation could be that some of the cases were females who were pregnant, and it is routine to test for STDs.
"Today's data demonstrate the significant health risk STDs pose to million of young women in this country every year," said Kevin Fenton, director of CDC's National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention. "Given that the health effects of STDs for women -- from infertility to cervical cancer -- are particularly severe, STD screening, vaccination and other prevention strategies for sexually active women are among our highest public health priorities."
Educators say that while numbers are staggering, information continues to be one of the best ways to prevent the transmission of STDs.
Linda Scharf, director of communications for Planned Parenthood Mohawk Hudson said the high numbers of young people could be a result of abstinence-only education.
"This CDC report highlights the tragic consequences of abstinence-only education which censors information about birth control and disease prevention that can save the lives and futures of young people," she said.
In Warren County alone, for the year 2007, 26 cases of teenage chlamydia were reported; one was male, 25 cases were reported from females, according to Helen Stern, public nurse for Warren County. One explanation could be that some of the cases were females who were pregnant, and it is routine to test for STDs.
"Today's data demonstrate the significant health risk STDs pose to million of young women in this country every year," said Kevin Fenton, director of CDC's National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention. "Given that the health effects of STDs for women -- from infertility to cervical cancer -- are particularly severe, STD screening, vaccination and other prevention strategies for sexually active women are among our highest public health priorities."
Educators say that while numbers are staggering, information continues to be one of the best ways to prevent the transmission of STDs.
Linda Scharf, director of communications for Planned Parenthood Mohawk Hudson said the high numbers of young people could be a result of abstinence-only education.
"This CDC report highlights the tragic consequences of abstinence-only education which censors information about birth control and disease prevention that can save the lives and futures of young people," she said.
Peer prevention
A peer education group called Teen View strives to provide teenagers, both male and female, with the information they need to make healthy decisions -- but, unlike structured classroom exercises, they learn from people their age.
Teen members from Warren, Washington and Saratoga counties are trained about sexual health and present to schools and communities through interactive skits and activities, said Darren Cosgrove, a community educator with Planned Parenthood and co-adviser for the group.
"When Teen View comes in, not only are they getting facts and education to empower to them, it's also being presented in a way that values them and empowers them," Cosgrove said.
"I think a lot of the reasons young people are experience risky behaviors and the consequences of risky behaviors because of lack of education," said Cosgrove, who was a member of Teen View when he was younger.
A peer education group called Teen View strives to provide teenagers, both male and female, with the information they need to make healthy decisions -- but, unlike structured classroom exercises, they learn from people their age.
Teen members from Warren, Washington and Saratoga counties are trained about sexual health and present to schools and communities through interactive skits and activities, said Darren Cosgrove, a community educator with Planned Parenthood and co-adviser for the group.
"When Teen View comes in, not only are they getting facts and education to empower to them, it's also being presented in a way that values them and empowers them," Cosgrove said.
"I think a lot of the reasons young people are experience risky behaviors and the consequences of risky behaviors because of lack of education," said Cosgrove, who was a member of Teen View when he was younger.
Teen View covers a wide variety of topics, from sexual assault to pregnancy, and teaches about sexual health. They try to relay the importance of abstinence and communication.
During a recent evening, a group of teenagers prepared for presentations in the Stillwater Central School District.
The group practiced an exercise, where each teen gathers signatures, and at the end of the drill, the person with the most signatures symbolizes a person with an STD. That idea is that each person is connected, and the exercise shows how easily the infections can be spread. Cosgrove, for the purpose of the exercise, collected no signatures, and therefore hadn't contracted any STDs.
He symbolized a person who remained abstinent, the only real way to 100 percent prevent STDs.
Travis Samborin, 17, said the group has helped make him a better person, while allowing him to help others.
During a recent evening, a group of teenagers prepared for presentations in the Stillwater Central School District.
The group practiced an exercise, where each teen gathers signatures, and at the end of the drill, the person with the most signatures symbolizes a person with an STD. That idea is that each person is connected, and the exercise shows how easily the infections can be spread. Cosgrove, for the purpose of the exercise, collected no signatures, and therefore hadn't contracted any STDs.
He symbolized a person who remained abstinent, the only real way to 100 percent prevent STDs.
Travis Samborin, 17, said the group has helped make him a better person, while allowing him to help others.
"We don't tell people what decisions to make, we educate them, hoping they make healthier decisions," he said.
His mother, Cheryl Samborin, said that peer pressure plays a strong role in the lives of teenagers, and the group is one way to combat that pressure.
"I just think that children are so highly influenced by their peers and the better educated they are, the better they'll be," she said.
Sex education
Part of the job description for Jill Castle, a community educator with Planned Parenthood and also a co-adviser of Teen View, includes traveling to schools to use education tools as a supplement to a health teacher's curriculum to educate both males and females about sexual health.
His mother, Cheryl Samborin, said that peer pressure plays a strong role in the lives of teenagers, and the group is one way to combat that pressure.
"I just think that children are so highly influenced by their peers and the better educated they are, the better they'll be," she said.
Sex education
Part of the job description for Jill Castle, a community educator with Planned Parenthood and also a co-adviser of Teen View, includes traveling to schools to use education tools as a supplement to a health teacher's curriculum to educate both males and females about sexual health.
Castle teaches about male and female responsibility, and uses a time line to go through the phases of sexual activity. She and the students talk about at which point the actions become "sex."
Many students have different answers for what they consider sex, risky behaviors and abstinence, Castle said.
Students usually have at least an idea about sex and sexually transmitted diseases before Castle starts speaking.
"They do have an idea and a lot of them think it's just having unprotected sex. But, it can happen in many other risky behaviors," she said.
For example, a lot of STDs are transmitted through skin-to-skin contact, outside of sexual intercourse, and kids don't realize it, she said.
Many students have different answers for what they consider sex, risky behaviors and abstinence, Castle said.
Students usually have at least an idea about sex and sexually transmitted diseases before Castle starts speaking.
"They do have an idea and a lot of them think it's just having unprotected sex. But, it can happen in many other risky behaviors," she said.
For example, a lot of STDs are transmitted through skin-to-skin contact, outside of sexual intercourse, and kids don't realize it, she said.
Castle said, in general, the students are very responsive to her, and she thinks she's making a difference in how they'll make decisions about their sexual health.
"I really enjoy what I do and I think it's really helpful for teens to know what services are available," Castle said.
"I would like to believe that once they get that information they retain it and they are able to make more responsible choices in the future."
Class time
Carol Miller, a health teacher for Glens Falls High School, agrees that sex education in the classroom produces tangible results. She said she's not yet introduced an outside educator into her curriculum, but she's hoping to in the future.
"There is a definite correlation. With sex education there are less pregnancies in the high school," Miller said.
During the sex education chapter, Miller teaches her students about transmission, symptoms and complications of STDs if they are left untreated.
She also speaks about treatment, if there is a treatment, and prevention.
Miller has taught elsewhere and said she has found that Glens Falls is more conservative on the spectrum of sex education. Parents seem to be more concerned about what topics are chosen to educate their children.
"They're a little concerned that we're 'saying things,' " Miller said.
When Miller asks students what they want to learn about, many list sexual topics, an indicator that they are receptive to learning.
"They're asking questions. And if they ask questions, they're listening," she said.
Parents are really the first sexual educators in a child's life, but might not always know the best ways to approach the topics, Miller said.
"There's a lot of mixed information out there and lot of parents just aren't sure how to teach it," she said. "I just think we need to get the information out there so they're aware. Awareness is half of the battle."
The health teacher of five years said she wasn't surprised by the numbers produced by the CDC report.
"They've got to have the knowledge to make the responsible decision. It's such a growing problem in our kids right now," she said.
"I really enjoy what I do and I think it's really helpful for teens to know what services are available," Castle said.
"I would like to believe that once they get that information they retain it and they are able to make more responsible choices in the future."
Class time
Carol Miller, a health teacher for Glens Falls High School, agrees that sex education in the classroom produces tangible results. She said she's not yet introduced an outside educator into her curriculum, but she's hoping to in the future.
"There is a definite correlation. With sex education there are less pregnancies in the high school," Miller said.
During the sex education chapter, Miller teaches her students about transmission, symptoms and complications of STDs if they are left untreated.
She also speaks about treatment, if there is a treatment, and prevention.
Miller has taught elsewhere and said she has found that Glens Falls is more conservative on the spectrum of sex education. Parents seem to be more concerned about what topics are chosen to educate their children.
"They're a little concerned that we're 'saying things,' " Miller said.
When Miller asks students what they want to learn about, many list sexual topics, an indicator that they are receptive to learning.
"They're asking questions. And if they ask questions, they're listening," she said.
Parents are really the first sexual educators in a child's life, but might not always know the best ways to approach the topics, Miller said.
"There's a lot of mixed information out there and lot of parents just aren't sure how to teach it," she said. "I just think we need to get the information out there so they're aware. Awareness is half of the battle."
The health teacher of five years said she wasn't surprised by the numbers produced by the CDC report.
"They've got to have the knowledge to make the responsible decision. It's such a growing problem in our kids right now," she said.
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