Epidemiology Paper
NUR 4010 SEC 8524
Prof: Leinung
Iyana Edwards
Healthy People 2020: Promote healthy sexual behaviors, strengthen community capacity, and increase access to quality services to prevent sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and their complications.
Topic
There is a deficiency in utilization of preventative healthcare resources. Approximately 19 million new STD cases occur annually. (Weinstock, Berman, Cates, 2004) Sexual health and well-being concerns us all regardless of age, gender or religion.
STDs refer to more than 25 infectious organisms that are transmitted primarily through sexual activity. STD prevention is an essential primary care strategy for improving reproductive health. (“Sexually Transmitted Diseases,” 2012) Under-diagnosis of sexually transmitted disease is a significant cause of morbidity and a major public health problem. (McKie, 2012)
Younger age is a recognized risk factor for STDs, as adolescents and young adults are disproportionately affected; in fact, nearly 50% of the 19 million new STD cases in the United States each year occur in 15- to 24-year-olds. (C. Caple (Ed.), 2012)
Environmental and social factors that have been associated with an increased risk of acquiring STDs including: Drug and/or alcohol use, which lowers inhibitions and can lead to risky sexual behavior; binge drinkers are 77% more likely than non-bingers to report engaging HIV risk behaviors; intravenous drug use and the sharing of needles can directly cause STD transmission.
In addition, having unprotected sex with an intravenous drug user is associated with an increased risk for STD infection; being of lower socioeconomic status increases the risk of acquiring STDs, due to the greater likelihood of inadequate preventive care or education on reducing STD risk; this situation is especially common among the homeless; having been in foster care is associated with increased risk for STDs in young adulthood. (C. Caple (Ed.), 2012)
The following factors may also cause an increased risk of acquiring a STD: Being exposed to sexual, verbal, and physical abuse increases the chances that an individual will experience anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); Relationships that lack an equal distribution of power; Individuals with mental illness are at increased risk of acquiring STDs; individuals with low self-esteem; Lack of regular health care, due to poverty or cultural beliefs may contribute to a lack of education regarding safe sex practices and even shame in addressing a sexual concern. (C. Caple (Ed.), 2012)
Analysis
According to the Mayo Clinic (2012), the type of STD testing you need and how often you should be tested depend on your age, your sexual behaviors and other risk factors. Patients must give an accurate account of their sexual history so that the correct diagnosis can made; the sooner the diagnosis is known the faster the treatment regimen can begin. It can be an uncomfortable to discuss one’s sexual history both from the perspective of the patient and the healthcare provider.
The number of sexual partners and the preferred sexual activity is necessary information to obtain from the patient since the risk of STDs transmission is high in individuals with multiply partners and anal sexual activities increases transmission compare to vaginal and oral sex. During the initial assessment / intake interview, the questions should be open-ended and non-judgmental so that the patient feels comfortable expressing themselves. Obtaining sexual history from the patient is vital to diagnosis of sexually transmitted diseases. Consideration should be given to each person’s cultural and religious values; therefore, the nurse and other members of the team must be aware of their spoken and body language. It’s important to know the number of sexual partners whether male or female. Type of sexual activity should be asked whether vaginal, oral, or anal sex. The method of manifestation of STD’s including oral, anal, or genital manifestations.
Despite their burdens, costs, and complications, and the fact that they are largely preventable, STDs remain a significant public health problem in the United States. This problem is largely unrecognized by the public, policymakers, and health care professionals. STDs cause many harmful, often irreversible, and costly clinical complications, such as reproductive health problems and cancer. (“Sexually Transmitted Diseases,” 2012) As reported by the Center for Disease Control (CDC, 2012), STDs cost the U.S. health care system $17 billion every year and cost individuals even more in immediate and life-long health consequences.
Solutions/Roles
Community nurses role in promoting sexual well being is to ensure that sexual health services are accessible to all members of the community. Indicating types of services and programs is just a small percentage of what is necessary to reduce the damaging effects of preventable diseases.
Manager:
The community nurse has many responsibilities, one which includes management. According to Allender (2010), as a manager the nurse exercises administrative direction toward the accomplishment of specified goals by assessing client’s needs, planning and organizing to meet those needs, directing and leading to achieve results, and controlling and evaluating the progress to make sure that goals are met.
As a manager, the nurse oversees by managing caseloads, running clinics, management of staff, conducting community assessment projects or studies. The nurse has to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate the actions taken to improve the community. As a nurse, applying for federal funding and grant writing is a major aspect of community nursing. Fund raisers also allow the community nurse to have involvement in the allocation of monies to provide services.
Researcher:
Another role of the community nurse involves research. The community nurse involves the efficient and effective investigation, collection, analysis of data for solving problems that occur in the community. Community nurses should be concerned with identifying barriers to effective assessment and surveillance. Research also involves the assessment of the community, asking questions and solutions.
Research determines whether the implementation of a particular intervention has been effective. The community nurse will base their practice on evidence found in literature to enhance and change practice needed (Allender, 2010). Research data is collected through surveys, questioners, studies.
Advisor
Encourage the involvement of faith-based institutions such as churches, mosques, synagogues, in the prevention and control efforts within the community.
Inclusion of sexual health awareness and family-life education courses/subject matter into all public elementary, middle, and senior high school educational curricula in the nation
Advocate
The nurse is advocating for each individual who lives in the community; thereby, she/he is advocating for the entire community. Community nurses deal with a number of sensitive and private issues daily. Healthcare education and promotion is a major issue that needs more attention. Community nurses are skilled in encouraging people to make use of screening services and this should be extended to include screening for sexual health. (Peate, 2012) Monitoring the existence and prevalence of STD’s in their communities will assist in the goal of reducing the prevalence.
Reference
Allender, J. A, Rector, C, Warner, K.D. (2010). Community Health Nursing: Promoting &
Protecting the Public’s Health. Wolters Kluwer Health. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Pg. 50-53.
Sexually transmitted Diseases: Risk Factors. In (2012). C. Caple (Ed.), Glendale, CA: Cinahl Information Systems.
McKie, R. A. (2012). Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Primary Care Reports, 18(9), 109-119.
Peate, I. (2012). Sexually transmitted infections in older people: The community nurse’s role. British Journal of Community Nursing, 17(3), 112-118.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases. (2012, September 06). Retrieved from http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topicsobjectives2020/overview.aspx?topicid=37
Weinstock, H., Berman, S., & Cates, W., Jr. (2004). Sexually transmitted diseases among American youth: Incidence and prevalence estimates, 2000. Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 36(1), 6–10.
STD testing: What’s right for you (2012)? Retrieved from http://search2.mayoclinic.com/search?q=STD&site=mayoclinic-org%7Cmayoclinic- com%7Cmayo-edu%7Cinternet-research%7Cclinical- trials&client=unified&output=xml_no_dtd.
2010 Sexually Transmitted Diseases Surveillance (2012). Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/std/stats10/default.htm
